Francois-Paul Brueys D'Aigalliers

French Admiral
1753-1798

Napoleon Bonaparte's Letter to Admiral Brueys' Widow

Francois-Paul Brueys D'Aigalliers began his life at sea at the age of 13 and served during the American War of Independence.

By 1792 he was a captain and fours years later, as a junior admiral, took the Ionean Islands for France.

In 1798 he was promoted to vice-admiral and led the naval forces during the expedition to Egypt.

Caught by Admiral Horatio Nelson at Aboukir Bay, his fleet's poor dispersal allowed the British to cut them to pieces.

For most of the battle, Brueys D'Aigalliers lay on the quarterdeck of his flagship L'Orient having had his legs broken.

With extreme courage he refused to leave his command post but, just before his ship exploded under the combined attack from several British vessels, he was killed by a cannonball.