Robert Surcouf (* 12 December 1773 in Saint Malo (France): "† 8 July 1827 in Saint Malo) was a French naval officer and Korsar.

Robert Surcouf, among whose ancestor several French Korsaren ranked, visited first a seminar for priests. But in the year 1786 it left the seminar and decided to drive to sea. Voluntarily it announced 1788 to the war navy and undertook themselves 1789 its first sea voyage to India, on which it received first military and nautical training. For its unusual achievements with a shipwreck Surcouf was already appointed 1791 the second lieutenant.

In January 1792 it returned to the revolutionary France and left the war navy. In August 1792 it hired on on a trading vessel and went to the French colony de France (Mauritius). There arrived it experienced from the war against Great Britain, which made the trading vessel travel impossible. Since the de France was threatened by a British squadron, Surcouf went to on the French frigate "".

With a small, it succeeded to the Britisher at firepower are subject French squadrons, consisting of two frigates and an armed trading vessel, to Surcouf to thus secure the British back to urge and the French possession de France. Afterwards it accepted the offer of two shipowners in de France and reequipped the small trade ship "Emilie "to the armed Kaperfahrer with 4 cannons and 30 men crew. With this ship the Kaperung succeeded to it ships loaded of four British ships, under it "tritons "of the British Indian company with 26 cannons and 150 men crew as well as two with rice and corn. By bringing in this prize Surcouf knew the hunger emergency in de France lindern.

In the capital haven Louis was celebrated Surcouf after its return in March 1796 as a hero. Because of diversities of opinion with the governor of the colony Surcouf had to return however first to France, in order to make its rights valid. Its call had hurried it already ahead and it received before the advice the five hundred its right.

In the year 1798 it armed a trading vessel again. With "the Clarisse "(18 cannons and 105 men crew) it applied again in August 1798 into the Indian ocean. In December 1798 it reached the de France. Already on the way there it had conquered two British and two Portuguese ships. By haven Louis it continued to drive to Sumatra, where it could conquer two further British ships in a daring action.

On 11 November 1799 it conquered the British three-master "Auspicious "(20 cannons), whose charge was worth more than one million franc. In the gulf of Bengalen Surcouf of the capture escaped by the British only, because he let eight cannons of his ship over board throw, in order to make this lighter thus faster and. While the return to the de France it could conquer a British and an American ship nevertheless. Since its own ship urgently in threw had, it the instruction was transferred over another 18-Kanonenschiff, with which it applied in March 1800 to the raid into the Indian ocean.

On 7 October 1800 Surcouf the conquest of the India driver armed with 26 cannons succeeded "to Kent "of the British eastIndian company. Around this victory myths climb, then many French sources speak with the Kent of a warship with up to 400 men crew and 40 cannons. The Kent an armed trading vessel with a crew, which was hardly sufficient both in terms of figures and from the experience, in order to be able to serve the 26 cannons effectively, was actual. To this success Surcouf returned in the triumph to the de France. Subsequently, Surcouf, hunted from the British, went who had exposed a head premium of five million franc on him, to France back. On 13 April 1801 it arrived in La Rochelle.

By its participation in the booty Surcouf had come to considerable prosperity. It established itself in pc. Malo, became a successful businessman and married. An offer of the first consul Napoleon Bonaparte in the year 1803 to promote and send with instruction over two frigates into the Indian ocean it to captain, deflected Surcouf, since Napoleon did not want to grant it the desired freedom of action. However it pleaded before Napoleon for an armament of the fleet, in which Surcouf saw an effective weapon in the fight against Great Britain. For its earnings/services Surcouf received on 18 July 1804 the membership in the Ehrenlegion.

Starting from 1804 the now very rich Surcouf became shipowner of 14 ships in pc. Malo. However it was a little successful as shipowners. Four of its ships were lost to five commercial journeys through Kaperung and ended with a loss. In the year 1807 Surcouf decided, into which service of the navy back zukehren. It left with 12 knot (22 km/h) quite snaps three-mast ship "Revenant "(20 cannons) after its defaults with copper-fitted trunk to build and began to 2. March 1807 its journey to the Indian ocean.

On the way at the de France arrive to it some to cape run gene already. It broke through the British blockade of the de France and found the colony in total poverty. Surcouf went on raid, which was however not crowned with success, since the British ships took flight immediately when recognizing Surcoufs ship. Unsuccessfully it returned on 31 January 1808 to the de France and decided its military career to terminate. Its cousin Joseph Potier resumed meanwhile the operations successfully.

As the commander of the French troops on the de France, Comte Decaen (1769 - 1852), Surcouf `s ship "Revenant "for the defense of the island to seize left, came it to violent arguments between the men. Since Decaen could not maintain and repair the ship, Surcouf bought the ship finally back, designated it in "Charles "again and returned to France. The controversy with Decaen and its departure from the de France threatened by the enemy led to the seizure of the goods of Surcouf in the Indian ocean by the governor von de France.

On 4 February 1809 reached Surcouf with "the Charles "and a charge in the value of 8 million franc again France. It went because of the controversy with Decean immediately to Paris. Because of the praising report Minister of the was congratulated Surcouf from emperor Napoleon to his successes and raised into the count conditions. 1810 took place via Napoleon also the cancellation of the seizure from Surcouf `s goods. After its return Surcouf established itself finally in pc. Malo. Because of its earnings/services it received life annuities. In January 1814 Surcouf was appointed the Colonel of the national guard in pc. Malo.

Although it was always connected for Napoleon, it did not follow the emperor after its return during the 100-Tage-Herrschaft. After its death its body with a Korso by 50 boats and ships was led to the cemetery.

Robert Surcouf caused with his raids in altogether 50 months on lake considerable losses to the English trade, 47 hostile ships was conquered or sunk. After Robert Surcouf became in the French navy different ships (see Surcouf (ship)) designated.

Its life became in the features "under the flag of the tiger "(Surcouf, l'eroe dei sette mari) (1966) and "thunder over the Indian ocean "(IL Grande colpo di Surcouf) (1966) filmed with Barray in the main role.

Related links

• French side with picture of Surcouf
• Film entry too "under the flag of the tiger "
• Film entry too "thunder over the Indian ocean "

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