Jean-François Duclerc
Encyclopedia
Jean-François Duclerc, Guadeloupe
? – Rio de Janeiro
, March 18, 1711) was a French
privateer
and knight in the Order of Saint-Louis.
He was born in Guadeloupe
as son of Jean Duclerc. He started a career in the French Navy, first as captain of a fireship and then in command of a frigate. On May 10, 1710 he sailed from La Rochelle
as commander of a small fleet to attack Rio de Janeiro
. He had only six ships and 1,200 men at his disposal. At the end of August 1710 they reached Rio and tried to conquer the city. The raid was a disaster. The Portuguese were notified of their arrival, and had no difficulties in crushing the small force. 400 French were killed and 700 captured, including Duclerc. Despite of the failure, Duclerc was made a knight in the Order of Saint-Louis. On March 18, 1711, Duclerc was assassinated in prison in mysterious circumstances by a group of masked men. In September 1711, a much larger French force under Duguay-Trouin
did succeed in conquering Rio de Janeiro
and freeing the surviving prisoners from Duclerc's raid.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
? – Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, March 18, 1711) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
and knight in the Order of Saint-Louis.
He was born in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
as son of Jean Duclerc. He started a career in the French Navy, first as captain of a fireship and then in command of a frigate. On May 10, 1710 he sailed from La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
as commander of a small fleet to attack Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. He had only six ships and 1,200 men at his disposal. At the end of August 1710 they reached Rio and tried to conquer the city. The raid was a disaster. The Portuguese were notified of their arrival, and had no difficulties in crushing the small force. 400 French were killed and 700 captured, including Duclerc. Despite of the failure, Duclerc was made a knight in the Order of Saint-Louis. On March 18, 1711, Duclerc was assassinated in prison in mysterious circumstances by a group of masked men. In September 1711, a much larger French force under Duguay-Trouin
Duguay-Trouin
Duguay-Trouin can refer to:*René Duguay-Trouin: René Trouin, Sieur du Gué , French privateer, admiral and Commander in the Order of Saint-Louis...
did succeed in conquering Rio de Janeiro
Battle of Rio de Janeiro
The Battle of Rio de Janeiro was a raid in September 1711 on the port of Rio de Janeiro in the War of Spanish Succession by a French squadron under René Duguay-Trouin...
and freeing the surviving prisoners from Duclerc's raid.
Sources
- French attacks on Brasil (Portuguese)
- Biographic data (French)