Pierre César Charles de Sercey [SEP] native language
Pierre César Charles de Sercey
Pierre César Charles de Sercey (near Autin, 1753 - Paris, 1836) was a French admiral, most notable for commanding French naval forces in the Indian Ocean from 1796 to 1800. His name is engraved on the Arc de triomphe.
Life.
Life Early life.
From an old noble family but orphaned very young, he embarked on the "Légère" aged 13 in 1766, before it sailed for the Antilles. He then voyaged in the Indian Ocean from 1767 to 1769
squadron of frigates to the East Indies early in 1796. This force, led by Contre-amiral Pierre César Charles de Sercey, originally comprised three frigates, subsequently joined by three more vessels, forming a powerful raiding squadron. After resupplying on Île de France in July, Sercey's frigates cruised off the Ceylon coast, dissuaded from attacking the undefended ports of British India by false information fed to his scouts that a British battle squadron was at anchor in Calcutta. Turning eastwards, Sercey hoped to raid George Town at Penang,