French privateer, businessman and slave trader (1773–1827)
Robert Surcouf
Surcouf c. 1820
Born
(1773-12-12)12 December 1773 Saint-Malo, Brittany
Died
8 July 1827(1827-07-08) (aged 53) Saint-Servan, Brittany
Allegiance
French Empire Bourbon Restoration
Service/branch
French Navy(briefly)
Years of service
1798–1809
Rank
Privateer
Commands held
Émilie
Clarisse Confiance
Revenant
Awards
Sabre of honour Legion of Honour
Spouse(s)
Marie Blaize
Relations
Brother to Nicolas Surcouf Cousin to Joseph Potier
Other work
ship-owner of privateer and merchantmen
Signature
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Robert Surcouf ([ʁɔ.bɛʁsyʁ.kuf] 12 December 1773 – 8 July 1827) was a French privateer, businessman and slave trader who operated in the Indian Ocean from 1789 to 1808 during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Capturing over 40 prizes, he later amassed a large fortune from a variety of commercial activities, such as ship-owning, privateering, slave trading and owning land.[1][2][3]
Surcouf started his maritime career as an officer on the ships Aurore, Courrier d'Afrique and Navigateur. Having risen to the rank of captain, he illegally engaged in slave trading onboard the slave ship Créole. Surcouf then captained the merchantman Émilie, on which he engaged in commerce raiding despite lacking a letter of marque. He preyed on British shipping, capturing several merchantmen including the East Indiaman Triton, before returning to the Isle de France where his prizes were confiscated. Surcouf then returned to France, where he obtained prize money from the government. Returning to the Indian Ocean, Surcouf captained the privateers Clarisse and Confiance, raiding British, American, and Portuguese shipping. He captured the East Indiaman Kent on 7 October 1800. Returning to France, Surcouf was awarded the Legion of Honour and settled down as a businessman.
He briefly returned to the Indian Ocean in 1807 on the corvette Revenant before returning to France. There, Surcouf sponsored privateers and merchantmen, including slave ships. His privateers led campaigns against British trade in the Indian Ocean and the English Channel. The cutter Renard, a ship of his, achieved fame in her victory over HMS Alphea on 9 September 1812, with Alphea exploding after repulsing French attempts at boarding her. After the Bourbon Restoration in France, Surcouf organised fishing expeditions to Newfoundland and amassed a considerable fortune. He died in 1827 and was buried in Saint-Malo.
^Roman (2001), p. 272.
^Roman (2018), p. 130.
^Alain Roman; summary on Robert Surcouf Archived 23 April 2003 at the Wayback Machine, www.netmarine.net
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Global Information
French Empire
Bourbon Restoration
French Navy(briefly)