GRASSE, FRANcOIS JOSEPH PAUL, Marquis DE GRASSE-TILLY, Count de (1722-88). A French admiral, who commanded the French fleet at the siege of Yorktown during the Ameri can Revolution. He was born in Provence, and began his naval career at fifteen in the service of the Knights of Malta. Later entering the French navy, he was promoted to be a lieutenant in 1754 and a captain in 1762. In 1778 he com manded a squadron that was sent to join d'Estaing in the West Indies, and took part in the operations at Saint Lucia and Santo Do mingo. In 1781, with the rank of admiral, he was placed in command of the new French fleet sent to America, which was intended both to re enforce the French in the West Indian waters and to co6perate with Roehambeau on the North American continent. After touching first in the West Indies, the fleet of 29 sail reached Chesa peake Bay on August 30th, where De Grasse blockaded the James and York rivers, and on September 5th repulsed an attack of the Eng lish fleet tinder Graves. After rendering invalu
able assistance at the siege of Yorktown (q.v.) he sailed away to the West Indies again, where his operations for some time were crowned with great success. Finally, off Santo Domingo, on April 12, 1782, he met the English fleet under Rodney, who signally defeated him and carried him a pris oner to London. Charges of incapacity and even treason were brought against him, and although after a thorough examination he was exonerated by the Council of War, he never again held a naval command. He wrote in his own defense a Mernoire justificatif (1782). Consult: The Operations of the French Fleet Under De Grasse in in "Bradford Clnb Series," No. 3 (New York, 1864) ; Magazine of American History, vol. vi. (New York, 1881) ; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, vol. iv. (London, 1886-89).