Louis-Léonce Trullet
Encyclopedia
Louis-Léonce Trullet was a French Navy officer.
in 1768. He served as a sailor on a number of ships before rising to helmsman in 1775.
From July 1776, he served as a lieutenant on a merchantman and rose in rank until captaining ships by 1784.
In September 1793, Trullet was tasked by the French ambassador in Constantinople with ferrying despatches to France. Arriving at Fort de Brégançon
, his ship was intercepted by the British, but he managed to repulse them and secure the documents. In recognition of his behaviour, he was promoted to captain in January 1794.
In 1797, Trullet commanded the Guillaume Tell
and later the Conquérant
, and in 1798, the Peuple Souverain and later the Timoléon.
On Timoléon, Trullet took part in the Battle of the Nile
, at the rearmost position in the French line. Fighting against three British ships, he ran aground and set his ship on fire to prevent her capture.
From December 1795, Trullet commanded the Carrère
, and later the Courageuse. Captured on 18 June 1799 and taken prisoner to England, Trullet was released on parole the next month.
In 1800, he took command of a frigate squadron in Italy.
From 1803, Trullet served ashore, until he retired in 1814.
Biography
Born to a family of sailors, and younger brother of Jean-François-Timothée Trullet, Louis-Léonce Trullet joined the Navy as a cabin boy on SéduisantFrench ship Séduisant (1783)
Séduisant was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.She was renamed Pelletier on 30 September 1793, in honour of Louis Michel le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau. Under Savary, she was one of the last ships of the line at the Glorious First of June.On 30 May 1795 her name...
in 1768. He served as a sailor on a number of ships before rising to helmsman in 1775.
From July 1776, he served as a lieutenant on a merchantman and rose in rank until captaining ships by 1784.
In September 1793, Trullet was tasked by the French ambassador in Constantinople with ferrying despatches to France. Arriving at Fort de Brégançon
Fort de Brégançon
The fort de Brégançon is the official retreat for the President of France. The fort is built on a small abrupt island, off the Mediterranean coast which is connected by a short pier, on the French commune of Bormes-les-Mimosas in Var department....
, his ship was intercepted by the British, but he managed to repulse them and secure the documents. In recognition of his behaviour, he was promoted to captain in January 1794.
In 1797, Trullet commanded the Guillaume Tell
HMS Malta (1800)
HMS Malta was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She had previously served with the French Navy as the Tonnant-class Guillaume Tell, but was captured in the Mediterranean in 1800 by a British squadron enforcing the blockade of Malta...
and later the Conquérant
French ship Conquérant (1747)
The Conquérant was a Citoyen class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Battle of the Nile, where she was armed with only 18- and 12-pounders, and crewed by a mere 400 men, under captain Dalbarade. Second ship in the vanguard of her line, Conquérant sustained fire from...
, and in 1798, the Peuple Souverain and later the Timoléon.
On Timoléon, Trullet took part in the Battle of the Nile
Battle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between British and French fleets at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1–3 August 1798...
, at the rearmost position in the French line. Fighting against three British ships, he ran aground and set his ship on fire to prevent her capture.
From December 1795, Trullet commanded the Carrère
HMS Carrere (1801)
Carrère was a French frigate that served briefly in the French navy before the British captured her in 1801, naming her HMS Carrere...
, and later the Courageuse. Captured on 18 June 1799 and taken prisoner to England, Trullet was released on parole the next month.
In 1800, he took command of a frigate squadron in Italy.
From 1803, Trullet served ashore, until he retired in 1814.
Sources and references
- Dictionnaire des capitaines de vaisseau de Napoléon, Danielle & Bernard Quintin, SPM, 2003, ISBN 2-901952-42-9