Denis Decrès

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Denis Decrès (18 June 1761 – 7 December 1820) was an officer of the French Navy and count, later duke of the First Empire.

Early career

The attempt to rescue the Glorieux a pivotal moment in his career; tomb of Denis Decrès.

Decrès was born in

enseigne de vaisseau. This event is commemorated on one side of his tomb.[1] He was in India when the French Revolution
broke out.

Revolutionary era

In October 1793, Decrès was sent as a messenger to request assistance for the

Malta. Napoleon appointed him to command the frigate squadron accompanying Brueys's fleet in the expedition to Egypt, and took part in the disastrous French defeat at the Battle of the Nile on the 40-gun frigate Diane and managed to escape to Malta, where he hoisted his flag aboard the 80-gun ship Guillaume Tell. During the period of 1799 - 1800, Decrès had under his command a rear admiral, Jacques Bedout, whom he saw fit to relieve of his command. Bedout's subsequent resignation was refused and in 1802, Napoleon gave Bedout a five-ship squadron. The flagship was the Argonaute
.

Consulate and First Empire

Heraldic achievement of Denis Decrès, Duke of Decrès
Guillaume Tell
off Malta on the 30 March 1800"; tomb of Denis Decrès.

vice-amiral
- on 30 May 1804,

In 1808, he was made a

Marshal Bernadotte and Joseph Bonaparte.[2][3] Upon Napoleon's return from Elba to France, Decrès briefly resumed his post as Minister of the Navy during the Hundred Days from 20 March to 22 June 1815, and from then until his successor was appointed on 7 July. He died in a fire at his house in Paris on 7 December 1820, set by one of his servants who was trying to kill and rob him. He is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery. His tomb has a low-relief sculpture depicting his brave actions in rescuing the Glorieux during the Battle of the Saintes.[4]

Political offices
Preceded by
Ministers of Marine and the Colonies

3 October 1801 – 1 April 1814 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jacques, comte Beugnot
Ministers of Marine and the Colonies

20 March 1815 – 7 July 1815 		Succeeded by
François Arnail, comte de Jaucourt

References

  1. ISBN 9780839801856
    . Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. ^ Six, Georges (1934). "Decrès (Denis, comte puis duc)". Dictionnaire biographique des généraux et amiraux français de la Révolution et de l'Empire: 1792–1814 (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: Librairie Historique et Nobilaire. pp. 305–306.
  3. ISBN 1854093916
    .
  4. ^ Fraser, Edward (1904). Famous Fighters of the Fleet. London: Macmillan. p. 136.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Denis Decrès.
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