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COMMANDER // 1722–1788

Comte de Grasse

vice admiralFranceUnited States4 battles1 war

Lifespan

1722 – 1788

173017401750176017701780American Revolution · 1775–1783Battle of the Chesapeake — September 5, 1781 · France · American RevolutionYorktown — Sep–Oct 1781 · United States · American RevolutionYorktown campaign — January 1, 1781 · United States · American RevolutionBattle of the Saintes — April 9, 1782 · France · American Revolution

Active service 1781–1782 — 4 battles across 1 war; first command at age 59.

Profile

Lieutenant général des armées navales François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, Marquis of Grasse-Tilly, KM was a French naval officer. He is best known for his crucial victory over the Royal Navy at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. The battle directly led to the Franco-American victory at the siege of Yorktown and helped secure the independence of the United States.

Source · Wikipedia · Q197627

Battles (4)

Last verified June 2026
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