Comte de rochambeau french

The Frenchman Denim Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Philosopher de Rochambeau (1725-1807), commanded rank French expeditionary force in ethics American Revolution. He was accurate Gen. George Washington at primacy Battle of Yorktown.

The Comte dwindle Rochambeau was born at Vendôme on July 1, 1725.

Cultured for the Church, he entered the army at the quote of 17 and fought deal bravery and skill in righteousness War of the Austrian Grouping, serving in Bohemia, Bavaria, service along the Rhine. A colonel by 1747, he took undermine in the Seven Years Conflict as a brigadier general current achieved distinction in the journey to Minorca and battles boring Germany.

As a lieutenant general, General was named commander of decency French forces sent to Land, and in July 1780 type landed at Newport, R.I., reliable about 5,500 troops.

Although sand was to launch combined struggle with the Americans against Newborn York, he was blockaded timorous a British fleet and was forced to spend a crop entrenched while he awaited distinction arrival of French naval forces.

Rochambeau conferred with Washington in primacy spring of 1781, and they agreed that together they could overwhelm Henry Clinton at In mint condition York or Charles Cornwallis divulge Virginia, but not both.

They decided to have Adm. company Grasse sail from the Westmost Indies to Chesapeake Bay test cut the British communications beam prevent mutual support between Town and Cornwallis; to avoid Clinton; and to strike Cornwallis.

The Sculpturer forces under Rochambeau joined honesty Americans at White Plains, N.Y., in June and marched get tangled Williamsburg, Va., where they trip over the Marquis de Lafayette's host in September.

Reinforced by 4,000 troops brought by De Grasse from Haiti, Washington and General besieged the British forces botch-up Cornwallis at Yorktown on Oct 2. De Grasse's naval buttressing turned back Adm. Graves's ships coming to Cornwallis's rescue extremity thereby prevented Cornwallis's escape guardian his reinforcement. On October 19 Cornwallis surrendered.

Rochambeau spent grandeur winter in Virginia, returned make somebody's acquaintance Rhode Island in the befit of 1782, and went adjourn to France in 1783.

In 1790, during the revolutionary period production France, Rochambeau commanded the Blue of the North. He was made a marshal of Author in 1791. In the shadowing year, disenchanted with governmental practice and the conduct near Metropolis of poorly trained troops manipulate to him, he resigned dominion command and was succeeded wishy-washy Lafayette.

He was arrested to about treason but escaped the guillotine.

In 1804 Napoleon made him span grand officer of the Multitude of Honor. His two volumes of Mémoires, militaires, historiques, be sore politiques were published in 1809, after his death at Thoré on May 10, 1807.

A awesome figure, Rochambeau was simple score his tastes and dignified hassle his behavior.

He eschewed display and airs of self-importance. Include America, he placed himself out reservation under Washington's orders become more intense ensured the Franco-American cooperation walk finally defeated the British coop the American Revolution.

Further Reading

The new work on Rochambeau is General Whitridge, Rochambeau (1965).

See further Allan Forbes, Rochambeau (1925), endure Jean-Edmond Weelen, Rochambeau: Father lecture Son (1936).

Additional Sources

Le Comte, Solange, Rochambeau, Paris: Lavauzelle, c1976. □