The New Student's Reference Work/Suffren, Pierre Andre de

Suffren′, Pierre Andre de, a French naval hero, was born at Saint-Cannat, July 17, 1726. He entered the navy when only 14, was captured but soon released, and served six years with the Knights of Malta. He was with the fleet blockading Gibraltar, and in command of five ships sailed to Madras, where he was in two or three battles, and conquered Trincomalee (1782). He was made vice-admiral of France on his return to Paris, where he was received with the greatest honors. He is called “one of the most dangerous enemies the English fleet has ever known, and, without exception, the most illustrious officer that has ever held command in the French navy.” He died at Paris, Dec. 8, 1788. See Studies in Naval History by Laughton.