Antoine Cresp

Antoine Cresp de Saint-Césaire ^{[Note 1]} (Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne,^[2] 19 October 1731 — Northumberland, 12 April 1782)^[3] was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.

Antoine Cresp
Born	19 October 1731 Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, France
Died	12 April 1782
Branch	French Navy
Rank	captain
Battles / wars	Battle of the Chesapeake Battle of the Saintes

Biography

Saint-Césaire was born in Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne on 19 October 1731^[3][2] to Suzanne-Roseline de Grasse and to François Cresp de Saint-Cézaire. He was nephew to De Grasse.^[4]

He was promoted to captain, and made a Knight in the Order of Saint Louis.^[3] Saint-Césaire was close to Mirabeau, and was best man at his wedding.^[4]

He took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781 as De Grasse's flag captain on the 110-gun Ville de Paris.^{[3][5] [4]}

Saint-Césaire captained the 74-gun Northumberland at the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782. He was killed in action. ^[3][1][4]

Legacy

A plaque was unveiled on 3 July 1976 at the city hall of Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne by Admiral Frederick C. Turner, Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet, Rear-Admiral Fernand Victor Robin, commander of the Mediterranean squadron of the French Navy,^[6] and Marcel Andreis, the Mayor.^[2]