Félix d'Hesmivy de Moissac
Félix d'Hesmivy de Moissac was a French Navy officer. He fought in the War of American Independence, earning a founding membership in the Society of the Cincinnati, [1] and taking part in the French operations in the Indian Ocean as Suffren's flag captain.
Biography
[edit]Hesmivy de Moissac was born to the family of Jean Louis Honoré d'Hesmivy de Moissac, a colonial administrator for Guadeloupe. He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine on 12 January 1766, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 13 March 1779.[2]
Lieutenant de Moissac fought in the Battle of Porto Praya on 16 April 1781, where his behaviour earned him the Cross of the Order of Saint Louis.[3] On 12 February 1782, became Suffren's flag captain on the 74-gun Héros. [4]
On 25 February 1782, Moissac was part of the French delegation to Hyder Ali.[5]
He took part in the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, [6] the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782, [7] the Battle of Negapatam on 6 July 1782, [8] the Battle of Trincomalee from 25 August to 3 September 1782, [9] and the Battle of Cuddalore on 20 June 1783. [10] Suffren noted his performance favourably, especially at Cuddalore, where Moissac captained aloned, as Suffren had his flag on the frigate Cléopâtre.[2]
Hesmivy de Moissac was promoted to Captain on 15 July 1784.[2]
Sources and references
[edit]Notes
References
- ^ Gardiner (1905), p. 214.
- ^ a b c Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 655.
- ^ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 489.
- ^ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 482.
- ^ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 506.
- ^ Cunat (1852), p. 111.
- ^ Cunat (1852), p. 128.
- ^ Cunat (1852), p. 169.
- ^ Cunat (1852), p. 217.
- ^ Cunat (1852), p. 301-302.
Bibliography
- Gardiner, Asa Bird (1905). The order of the Cincinnati in France. The Rhode Island state society of Cincinnati. p. 121.
- Cunat, Charles (1852). Histoire du Bailli de Suffren. Rennes: A. Marteville et Lefas.
- Lacour-Gayet, G. (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XV. Paris: Honoré Champion.