For Obama : Louis Guillouet, Comte d’ ORVILLIERS

la Semaine de l'Allier: Orvilliers un moulinois


1710-1792 Louis Guillouet, Comte d’ ORVILLIERS

Originaire du Centre, d’une lignée de marins et gouverneurs de Cayenne, il sert pendant les guerres de Louis XVet commande l’armée navale de Brest en 1778. Au combat d’Ouessant, il oblige l’Anglais Keppel à laisser l’Atlantique ouvert aux évolutions françaises.

L’Espagne entre alors en guerre. D’Orvilliers, en 1779, est chargé de se joindre aux Espagnols pour menacer les côtes anglaises d’un débarquement. Les retards espagnols, la lenteur des manœuvres, l’absence de soutien logistique, de rechanges pour la flotte et de relève pour les équipages, avec le scorbut qui en résulte, les hésitations du ministre sur les plans de débarquement, condamnent la flotte à une errance inutile sans bases françaises dans la Manche. D’Orvilliers doit rentrer à Brest, sans résultat décisif. Il a perdu son fils unique et se retire, à Moulins, dans un couvent. PhB


Source: le site des Cincinnati


Louis Guillouet Orvilliers

ORV1LLIERS, Louis Guillouet, French sailor, born in Moulins, France, in 1708; died there in 1792. His father was governor of Cayenne, and at the age of fifteen the son entered the military service of that colony, rising rapidly to the rank of lieutenant of infantry, he passed into the navy in 1728, reached the grade of post-captain in 1754, and, after taking an active part in various campaigns in Europe, Santo Domingo, and the Antilles, was made vice-admiral in 1764. In 1777 he was named lieutenant-general of the naval armies in consequence of the approaching intervention of France in the war between Great Britain and her American colonies. In 1778 he engaged the English under Admiral Keppel from 23 to 27 July, and although both fleets suffered equally, the advantage remained with the French. An attempt to capture Portsmouth and Plymouth in the following year was a failure, and D'Orvilliers, being censured for not turning to better account the immense naval forces at his disposal, resigned his command. On the death of his wife in 1783 he retired to the Abbey of St. Magloire, Paris, but he returned to his native town some time afterward.

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001