ESTAING, CHARLES HECTOR, Comte d', 1729-94; a French admiral, b. Auvergne. He first entered the army, and in 1757, as brig.gen., accompanied count de Lally to the East Indies. At the siege of Madras, 1759, he was made .prisoner, hut was released on parole. He at once resumed service in command of two ships of war, and being again taken captive in 1760, he was thrown into prison at Portsmouth for breaking his parole. He was soon released, and was appointed lieut.gcn. in the navy in 1763, and in 1777 vice admiral; and in 1778, commanded the fleet sent to aid the United States against Great Britain, bringing with him Gerard, the first French ambassador to the United States. He planned, with the American a combined land and naval attack on New port; and his demonstrations forced the British to burn or sink six frigates lying in the harbor; but lord Howe came, with an English fleet, to relieve Newport, and d'Estaing put to sea to engage him. A sudden storm separated the fleets, and d'Estaing put into
Boston to repair his shattered ships. In Nov. he sailed to the West Indies, where he captured St. Vincent and Grenada, compelling the fleet which had come to relieve Grenada to retire to the harbor of St. Christopher. With 22 ships he co-operated, Oct. 9, 1779, in the unsuccessful attack on Savannah, and was himself wounded. The fol lowing year he returned to France. He commanded the combined fleet before Cadiz, when the treaty of peace was signed in 1783. Entering into French politics, he was elected to the assembly of notables in 1787, in 1789 he commanded the national guard, and in 1792 the national assembly chose him admiral. In 1793, he bore testimony in favor of Marie Antoinette. The following year he was himself brought to trial, con demned, and executed.