, a brave French officer, count of Orleans and of Longueville, and
, a brave French officer, count of Orleans and of Longueville, and the natural son of Louis duke of Orleans, who was assassinated by the duke of Burgundy, was born Nov. 23, 1407, and began his career, during the war which the English carried on in France, by the defeat of the earls of Warwick and Suffolk, whom he pursued to the gates of Paris. Orleans being besieged by the English, he bravely defended that town, until Joan of Arc was enabled to bring him succours. The raising of the siege was followed by a train of successes, and Dunois had almost the whole honour of driving the enemy out of Normandy and la Guienne. He gave them the fatal blow at Castillon, in 1451, after having taken from them Blaie, Fronsac, Bourdeaux,and Bayonne. Charles VII. owed his throne to the sword of Dunois; nor was he ungrateful, for he bestowed on him the title of restorer of his country, made him a present of the comté of Longueville, and honoured him with the office of grand chamberlain of France. He was held in equal esteem by Louis XI. Count cle Dunois, under the reign of that prince, entered into the league of what was called the Public-good, of which, by his conduct and experience, he became the principal supporter. The hero died Nov. 24, 1468, aged 61, regarded as a second du Guesclin, and not less dreaded by the enemies of his country, than respected by his fellowcitizens, for his valour, which was always guided by prudence, for his magnanimity, his beneficence, and every rirtue that enters into the character of a truly great man.
, a brave French officer, was born in 1610, of a noble family in
, a brave French officer, was
born in 1610, of a noble family in Normandy. He was
trained up to the marine service under his father, who was
an experienced captain, and distinguished himself from the
age of seventeen. He went into Sweden in 1644, and was
there made major-general of the fleet, and afterwards viceadmiral. In this last character, he engaged in the famous
battle, when the Danes were entirely defeated, and took
their admiral’s ship, called the Patience, in which the
Danish admiral was killed. Being recalled to France in
1647, he commanded one of the squadrons sent on the
Neapolitan expedition; and, in 1650, when the French
navy was reduced to a very low state, fitted out several
vessels, at his own expence, at the first commotions at
Bourdeaux. The Spaniards arrived in the river at the same
time, but be entered notwithstanding, to which circumstance the surrender of the town was principally owing
and equal success attended him in the last wars of Sicily.
He defeated the Dutch in three different engagements, in
the last of which the famous Ruyter was killed by a cannon
ball; and he disabled the Tripoli ships so as to compel that
republic to conclude a peace very glorious for France.
Some years after this he forced Algiers and Genoa to implore his majesty’s mercy, and set at liberty a great number of Christian slaves. In short, Asia, Africa, and Europe, were Witness to his valour, and resound still with his
exploits. Though a protestant, the king rewarded his services by giving the territory of Bouchet, near d'Etampes,
(one of the finest in the kingdom) to him and his heirs for
ever, and raised it to a marquisate on condition that it
should be called Du Quesne, to perpetuate this great man’s
memory. He died February 2, 1688, aged 73, leaving
four sons, who have all distinguished themselves. Henry,
the eldest, published “Reflections on the Eucharist,
”