François-Joseph Paul de Grasse

Lieutenant Général des Armées Navales François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse (13 September 1722 – 11 January 1788) is a French admiral.

He is best known for his command of the French fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake, which leads directly to the British surrender at Yorktown.

De Grasse is decisively defeated the following year by Admiral Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes, where he is captured.

He is widely criticized for this.

On his return to France, he demands a court martial; he is acquitted of fault in his defeat.

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