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Karl Heinrich von Nassau-Siegen
French-born fortune-seeker and adventurer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karl Heinrich von Nassau-Siegen (French: Charles-Henri-Othon de Nassau-Siegen; 5 January 1743 – 10 April 1808), was a French-born fortune-seeker and adventurer active in Spain, Poland and the Russian Empire. A controversial figure, he was best known as Catherine II's least successful[1] naval commander.
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Charles Henry, in Catherine II's own words, "had everywhere the reputation of a crazy fellow". He sailed around the world with Bougainville, "fought tigers bare-handed" in Central Africa and reportedly seduced the Queen of Tahiti. His tiger hunt is the subject of a vast canvas by Francesco Casanova.