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François-Louis Poulin de Courval


NationalityFrench 
RolesNaval Sailor, Privateer, Merchant Sailor 
Date of Birth30.10.1728 - Quebec ref:631
First Known Service1752ref:631
WifeMarguerite Leneuf de Beaubassin - Married 3.7.1764, Saint Pierre ref:631
Last Known Servicec.1767ref:631
Date of Death10.1769 - La Rochelle ref:631

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
1752 Capitaine Marchandref:631
c.5.1756 In the spring of 1756, his ship ran aground on the banks of the St. Lawrence. He then entered the service of the King of France who had just declared war on England. An experienced captain, he made various crossings between Canada and France. It was during one of them that his ship the "Diamant" was captured: injured, Poulin was taken prisoner and taken to England where he stayed for eight months.ref:631
c.1758aft.17.5.1759
Le Bienfaisant (22) 1759-1760
French 22 Gun
Hired Ship
, Capitaine Marchand, and Commanding Officer , rank ?
ref:631
28.7.1759 On July 28, he attempted, using rafts acting as fireboats, to set fire to the English fleet, but without success. A month later, while he was in Saint-Augustin (Saint-Augustin-de-Québec), Poulin was the victim of an unfortunate accident: a French soldier, having mistaken him for an Englishman, fired a shot. which hit him in the thigh. Poulin was therefore unable to participate in the final battles which were to decide the fate of the colony.ref:631
10.1760 In the fall of 1760, he went to La Rochelle where he stayed for several months; he then went to “take the waters” at Barèges in order to heal his ailing leg. His stay at the spa left him 4,000 livres in debt. Anxious to pay his debts, Poulin fitted out a privateer ship towards the end of 1761. He was about to leave when he received orders to go to Brest where he was appointed captain of a fireboat in the royal navy.ref:631
1761 Capitaine de Brûlotref:631
c.6.6.1762 In the spring of 1762, he embarked for Newfoundland with Charles-Louis d’Arsac de Ternay, who was responsible for destroying the English establishments there.ref:631
9.1762 Taken Prisoner for a month.ref:631
bef.9.1762 
Le Zéphyr (28) 1728-1762
French 28 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Capitaine de Brûlot, and Commanding Officer
ref:631
aft.10.1762 Appointed Chevalier l’Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louisref:631
1763 
La Garonne (34) 1761-1770
French 34 Gun
5th Rate Flûte
, Capitaine de Brûlot, and Commanding Officer
ref:631
1764 He returned to Saint Pierre and Miquelon with a load of provisions in 1764. It is, it seems, during these trips that he took stock of the possibilities offered by fishing, agriculture and wood from the Saint-Pierre and Miquelon islands. But the supply of these islands always remained precarious. ref:631
1766 During the winter of 1765–1766, the situation in Saint-Pierre became critical. Versailles then asked the authorities of the port of Rochefort to send help there, despite the difficulties of navigation in this season. This perilous mission was entrusted to Poulin de Courval, who knew these waters very well. He acquitted himself perfectly, reaching Saint-Pierre at the end of the winter of 1766. This last exploit earned him the rank of lieutenant in the royal navy and a bonus of 600 livres.ref:631
c.1767 Lieutenant de Vaisseauref:631

Sources


IDNameAuthorType
ref:631Geneanet Web Site
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