Robert Sutton de Clonard

Robert Sutton de Clonard (or Closnard; 11 August 1751 in Wexford, Ireland — 1788, Vanikoro) was a French naval officer of Irish descent, notable for his role in the War of American Independence and in the Lapérouse expedition.

Chevalier Robert Sutton de Clonard was born to Thomas Sutton de Clonard, an officer in the French East India Company, and to Phyllis Masterson, from Castletown. Thomas Sutton de Clonard travelled several times to India on business.

Several members of the family served in the Navy, notably Robert's uncle Lieutenant Thomas de Clonard, and Robert's younger brother, who was killed on 15 December 1778 during the Battle of St. Lucia while serving on Languedoc.

Robert Sutton de Clonard started sailing in 1768, serving on the East Indiamen Laverdy and Duc-de-Praslin.

In 1774, as Lapérouse defended besieged Mahé on Seine, Clonard was in command of a one-gun boat, which he used to attack shore positions, sustaining a light wound in the action.

On 16 March 1775, Clonard successfully defended a small fort. As Louis XVI awarded him a 300-pound pension for his conduct, he requested that the Order of Saint Louis be granted instead as he was "more sensitive to honour than to pecuniary graces".

Promoted to Lieutenant, he served on Glorieux under Captain vicomte d'Escars in the War of American Independence, taking part in the Invasion of Tobago on 30 May 1781. Captured by the British, he was exchanged and given command of the privateer Comte d'Artois, a large East Indiaman converted to a privateer, capturing several British merchantmen but encountering several warships on his second journey.

In the action of 13 August 1780, Comte d'Artois encountered HMS Bienfaisant, and HMS Charon, which was further away. The British warships had been looking for Comte d'Artois and an engagement ensued in which Sutton was eventually forced to strike his colours. Clonard himself was slightly wounded. Of his crew, 21 men were killed and 35 wounded; Clonard himself was slightly wounded. Bienfaisant had three men killed and 20 wounded.Charon only joined the action towards the end of the engagement and only had a single man wounded. Two British frigates, Licorne and Hussar also came up towards the end of the action and so shared in the prize money with Bienfaisant and Charon.

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