François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros
| François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 13 January 1748 Brest |
| Died | 12 November 1832 (aged 84) Paris |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of France Kingdom of the French First French Republic First French Empire Kingdom of France
|
| Service/branch |
 French Navy
|
| Years of service | 1762–1827 |
| Rank | Vice admiral |
| Commands held | Cadiz |
| Awards |
Order of St Louis, Légion d’Honneur, name inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe |
François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros (13 January 1748, Brest – 12 November 1832, Paris) was a French naval commander of the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. He is notable as being chosen by Napoleon to succeed Villeneuve as commander of the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Cádiz fleet, arriving to take up his appointment just after its defeat at Trafalgar. His name is inscribed on the east side of the Arc de Triomphe.
His father the comte de Rosily was a chef d’escadre and was commanding the Brest fleet in 1762 when he admitted François as a garde de marine. From 1762 to 1769 François completed his apprenticeship at sea in several varied campaigns, visiting Rio de Janeiro, Newfoundland, Hispaniola and the Antilles. He became an enseigne de vaisseau in 1770, on a ship commanded by Kerguelen. Under Kerguelen he then went on a surveying trip along the French coast before setting out on a circumnavigation of the globe whose aim was to research the unknown 'Terra Australis' for France. On 13 February 1772 it was believed he had discovered it and Rosily was sent out in a launch to reconnoitre it. On the launch's return, however, Kerguelen's frigate had disappeared. Miraculously rescued by the fluyt Gros-Ventre, Rosily travelled on her for 8 months and finally reached France in 1773. He left immediately afterwards to rejoin Kerguelen, who was by then once again on his way out east in an attempt to find the 'Terra Australis' and rescue Rosily. Rosily caught up with Kerguelen at Mauritius, where he was put in command of the corvette Ambition : this voyage lasted 14 months.
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