ESTAING, CHARLES HECTOR, COMTE D' French admiral, was born at the château of Ruvel, Auvergne. In he accompanied count de Lally to the East Indies, with the rank of brigadier-general. In 1759 he was made prisoner at the siege of Madras, but was released on parole. On his return to France in 1760 he fell into the hands of the English and on the ground of having broken his parole, was thrown into prison at Portsmouth, but soon released. In 1778 he obtained the corn mand of a fleet intended to assist the United States against Great Britain. He sailed on April 13, and between July II and block aded Howe at Sandy Hook. In concert with the American gen erals, he planned an attack on Newport ; but before the concerted attack could take place, he put to sea against the English fleet, under Lord Howe. A storm shattered his fleet, and he had to put into Boston for repairs. He then sailed for the West Indies on Nov. 4 where he captured St. Vincent and Grenada. On July 6, 1779 he fought a drawn battle with Admiral John Byron, who re tired to St. Christopher. Though superior in force, D'Estaing would not attack the English in the roadstead, but set sail to attack Savannah. All his attempts were repulsed with heavy loss. He returned to France in 1780. He was in command of the com bined fleet before Cadiz when the peace was signed in 1783. In 1787 he was elected to the assembly of the notables; in 1789 he was appointed commandant of the national guard ; and in 1792 he was chosen admiral by the National Assembly. On the trial of Marie Antoinette in 1793 he bore testimony in her favour. He was himself brought to trial, and was executed on April 28, See Viscomte de Noailles, Marins et soldats francais en Amerique (1903) ; Beatson, Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, vol. v.