Georges-François de Framond
French Navy officer of the War of American Independence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Georges-François Godefroy de Framond de La Framondie, Count of Framond[Note 1] (4 February 1733, in Grèzes, Lozère — 28 September 1785, in Montargis)[3] was a French Navy officer and aristocrat. He served in the War of American Independence, earning membership in the Society of the Cincinnati.[1][2]
Georges-François de Framond | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 4 February 1733 Grèzes, Lozère, France |
| Died | 28 September 1785 (aged 52) Montargis, France |
Branch | French Navy |
Rank | brigadier des armées navales |
Conflicts | War of American Independence Battle of Martinique Battle of Fort Royal Battle of the Chesapeake Battle of the Mona Passage |
Biography
Framond was born to the family of Jeanne Marie Elisabeth Césarine de Rochefort d'Ailly, and of Louis François Framond de Grèzes, from Gévaudan. His brothers Charles-Auguste Framond de Grèzes and Étienne Aimé François Framond de La Framondie also served in the Navy.[3] Framond joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in 1748. he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1757.[1]
In 1765, Framond commanded the 20-gun xebec Caméléon during the Larache expedition.[4]
In 1770, he was made a Knight in the Order of Saint Louis. [1] In 1773, Framond was first officer on the 74-gun Protecteur, for a journey from Brest to Toulon.[5] In 1776, he commanded the 26-gun frigate Mignonne for missions to Greece and Cyprus.[6]
Framond was promoted to Captain in 1778,[1] and given command of the 32-gun Sultane.[7] He cruised between Cyprus and Toulon, ferrying diplomatic despatches.[8]
In 1780, he captained the 64-gun Caton, part of the squadron under Guichen.[1] Caton was later attached to the squadron commanded by De Grasse. He took part in the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780,[9] as well as in the two smaller engagements of 15 and 19 May 1780.[10]
At the Battle of Fort Royal, on 29 April 1781, Caton was one of the four ships to come reinforce the squadron under De Grasse, along with Victoire, Réfléchi and Solitaire.[11] He took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781,[12] where he was wounded.[13]
On 24 March 1782, he was promoted to Chef de Division.[1] On 10 April 1782, in the run-up to the Battle of the Saintes, Caton found herself becalmed and Framond asked for assistance. Despite having been sent a frigate, Framond decided to anchor at Basse-Terre without authorisation from his hierarchy. [14] He thus failed to take part in the Battle of the Saintes, and a few days after, on 19 April 1782, Caton was captured at the Battle of the Mona Passage.[1]
Framond was court-martialed on 27 February 1783 and found guilty. He was expelled from the Navy and imprisoned at Château de Ham to serve a life sentence.[1][15] On 26 February 1785, he was released and ordered to live at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.[2] He died in October of that same year.[1][2]