Jean Dalbarade
| Jean Dalbarade | |
|---|---|
| Born |
31 August 1743 Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France |
| Died | 31 December 1819 (aged 76) Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Naval officer, politician |
| Known for | Minister of the Navy and Colonies |
Jean Dalbarade (or d'Albarade; 31 August 1743 – 31 December 1819) was a French naval officer who became an extremely successful corsair. In his career at sea he captured many enemy vessels, and was often wounded. He was decorated by King Louis XVI. Dalbarade became Minister of the Navy and Colonies (1793–95) during the French Revolution, at the height of the Reign of Terror. He was ineffective and indecisive in this position. He commanded the port of Lorient for two years, then was dismissed and soon after retired from the navy.
Jean Dalbarade was born in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on 31 August 1743. Of Basque origin, growing up beside the sea, he naturally became a sailor, as did his younger brothers. He sailed as a corsair during the Seven Years' War (1754–1763). At the age of sixteen, on 14 March 1759 he joined the royal ship Outarde as an apprentice seaman in a voyage to Quebec. On 2 October 1760 he joined the corsair Le Labourt from Saint-Jean-de-Luz as a lieutenant. The ship had 18 guns and a crew of 207. In the campaign that followed thirteen prizes were taken. Dalbarade was badly wounded in the head. He then joined La Minerve, armed with four cannon and 14 swivels, and then was made first lieutenant on La Triomphante, a frigate with a crew of 160.
After the war, Dalbarade joined the merchant marine service. He served again in the royal navy during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). As commander of the corsair frigate Duchesse de Chartres he captured the English frigate General Dalling. He was wounded by a bullet while boarding the Swallow, and was taken prisoner by the English. Dalbarade was freed in 1780 and took command of the corsaire l'Aigle from Saint-Malo, with which he seized a score of ships. In 1781 he was condemned to prison for having debauched some naval crews. Apart from minor misdeeds like this, and from often acting more like a pirate than a corsair, Dalbarde proved himself an intrepid sailor. He was made a Knight of Saint Louis in 1787 by King Louis XVI of France. Dalbarade was promoted to Captain (capitaine de vaisseau) in January 1792. In April 1792 he was given the command of a royal frigate.
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