Antoine Marie François Montalan

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Antoine Marie François Montalan (19 March 1767 in Lyon – 22 March 1818 in Paris) was a French Navy officer active during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic wars.

Career[edit]

Early life[edit]

Montalan was born to Marguerite Gastaldy and Jean-François Montalan, an industrialist of Lyon, on 19 March 1767. He started sailing in the French East India Company in 1787 as a volunteer. By 1792, Montalan has risen to the rank of Second Captain in the merchant navy.[1]

French Revolutionary Wars[edit]

On 12 February 1792, Montalan joined the Navy as an enseigne de vaisseau non entretenu (junior ensign), serving on the corvette Vanneau and later on the frigate Résolue.[1]

In 1793, he was promoted to Lieutenant. He was appointed to Galathée from November 1793 to March 1794, and then on Sans Pareil.[1]

On 19 March 1794, Montalan received his first command, the corvette Tourterelle. On 15 May 1795, Tourterelle met the British frigate Lively, and struck after a four-hour battle. Montalan subsequently underwent a court-martial or the loss of his ship, and was unanimously acquitted on 20 May 1796.[1]

Promoted to Commander on 21 March 1796, Montalan was given command of Résolue, and took part in the Expédition d'Irlande as Nielly's flagship.[1] In the night of 22 to 23 December, she accidentally collided with Redoutable, losing her of her bowsprit, foremast, and mizzen; only her mainmast stayed upright.[2][3] the 74-gun Pégase took Résolue in tow and returned with her to Brest, where they arrived on 30 December;[4]

In 1797, Montalan took command of a frigate division comprising Sémillante, Fraternité and the corvette Berceau, with his flag on Sémillante, ferrying General Hédouville to Saint Domingue.[1]

In 1799, he took command of another division, composed of Sémillante, Charente and two avisos to bring despatches to Admiral Bruix.[1]

On 9 April 1799, Sémillante [5] along with Vengeance and Cornélie, encountered and fought HMS St Fiorenzo and HMS Amelia off Belle Île.[6] The engagement was indecisive, with the French ships escaping up the Loire. The British suffered three men killed and 35 wounded.[7]

After the decommissioning of Sémillante on 19 July 1802, Montalan was appointed to captain Vertu in September. Commanding a frigate division, he was sent to Saint Domingue to repress slave rebelling at Gonaïves. He was promoted to Captain 2nd Class on 24 September 1803. After the Blockade of Saint-Domingue resulted in the capitulation of General Rochambeau in December 1803, Montalan was taken to Jamaica as a prisoner of war, and eventually returned to France the next year.[1]

Napoleonic Wars[edit]

In 1808, Montalan was appointed to command Robuste. In April 1809, he transferred to Génois, which he captained until 1814.[8]

Sources and references[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Quintin, p.285
  2. ^ Roche, p. 373
  3. ^ Rouvier, p.317-318
  4. ^ Rouvier, p.318
  5. ^ Fonds marine, p. 221.
  6. ^ The Naval History of Great Britain, 1793 - 1820, Volumes II and IV, by William James, R. Bentley, London, 1837.
  7. ^ "No. 15126". The London Gazette. 20 April 1799. p. 371.
  8. ^ Quintin, p.286

Bibliography[edit]

  • Fonds Marine. Campagnes (opérations; divisions et stations navales; missions diverses). Inventaire de la sous-série Marine BB4. Tome premier : BB4 1 à 482 (1790-1826) [1]
  • Quintin, Danielle; Quintin, Bernard (2003). Dictionnaire des capitaines de Vaisseau de Napoléon (in French). S.P.M. ISBN 2-901952-42-9.
  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922. (1671-1870)
  • Rouvier, Charles (1868). Histoire des marins français sous la République, de 1789 à 1803 (in French). Arthus Bertrand.
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