Robert Surcouf
| Robert Surcouf | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Surcouf by Antoine Maurin
|
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| Born | 12 December 1773 Saint-Malo, Brittany |
| Died | 8 July 1827 (aged 53) Saint-Malo, Brittany |
| Allegiance |
 France
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| Service/branch |
 French Navy (briefly) |
| Years of service | 1798–1809 |
| Rank | Privateer |
| Commands held | Revenant |
| Awards |
Sabre of honour Legion of Honour |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Blaize |
| Relations | Brother to Nicolas Surcouf Cousin to Joseph Potier |
| Other work | ship-owner of privateers and merchantmen |
| Signature |  |
Robert Surcouf (12 December 1773 – 8 July 1827) was a French privateer who operated in the Indian Ocean between 1789 and 1801, and again from 1807 to 1808, capturing over 40 prizes, while amassing a large fortune as a ship-owner, both from privateering and from commerce for a time.
Surcouf started his career as a sailor and officer on the slave ships Aurore, Courrier d'Afrique and Navigateur. Having risen to captain, and in spite of the prohibition of slave trading by the National Convention in 1793, he engaged in the business himself as a captain on Créole. He then captained the merchantman Émilie, on which he engaged in commerce raiding despite lacking a letter of marque. He preyed on British shipping, capturing the East Indiaman Triton, before returning to Île de France, where his prizes were confiscated. He then returned to France, where he obtained prize money from the government.
Returning to the Indian Ocean, Surcouf captained the privateers Clarisse and Confiance, raiding British, American and Portuguese merchantmen. He captured the East Indiaman Kent on 7 October 1800. Returning to France, he was awarded the Legion of Honour and settled as a ship-owner.
He briefly returned to the Indian Ocean in 1807 on the custom-built Revenant before returning to France. There, he armed privateers and merchantmen. His privateers led successful campaigns against the British in the Indian Ocean and disastrous ones in the English Channel, except for Renard which achieved fame in her very costly victory over HMS Alphea on 9 September 1812 which exploded after repulsing French attempts at boarding it causing many casualties. After the Bourbon restoration, he organised fishing expeditions to Newfoundland and amassed a considerable fortune. He died in 1827 and is buried in a graveyard at Saint-Malo.
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