Robert Surcouf

Robert Surcouf ( 12 December 1773 – 8 July 1827) was a French privateer, businessman and slave trader who operated in the Indian Ocean from 1789 to 1808 during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Capturing over 40 prizes, he later amassed a large fortune from a variety of commercial activities, such as ship-owning, privateering, slave trading and owning land.

Surcouf started his maritime career as an officer on the ships ''Aurore'', ''Courrier d'Afrique'' and ''Navigateur''. Having risen to the rank of captain, he illegally engaged in slave trading onboard the slave ship ''Créole''. Surcouf then captained the merchantman ''Émilie'', on which he engaged in commerce raiding despite lacking a letter of marque. He preyed on British shipping, capturing several merchantmen including the East Indiaman ''Triton'', before returning to the Isle de France where his prizes were confiscated. Surcouf 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 shipping. He captured the East Indiaman on 7 October 1800. Returning to France, Surcouf was awarded the Legion of Honour and settled down as a businessman.

He briefly returned to the Indian Ocean in 1807 on the corvette ''Revenant'' before returning to France. There, Surcouf sponsored privateers and merchantmen, including slave ships. His privateers led campaigns against British trade in the Indian Ocean and the English Channel. The cutter ''Renard'', a ship of his, achieved fame in her victory over on 9 September 1812, with ''Alphea'' exploding after repulsing French attempts at boarding her. After the Bourbon Restoration in France, Surcouf organised fishing expeditions to Newfoundland and amassed a considerable fortune. He died in 1827 and was buried in Saint-Malo. Provided by Wikipedia