VILLARET DE JOYEUSE, Louis-Thomas, count (Auch, May 29, 1748 - Venice, July 24, 1812).
Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (born May 29, 1747 in Auch and died July 24, 1812 in Venice), was a French sailor
Before the Revolution
Engaged in the king's gendarmes, he had to leave them following a deadly duel and entered the navy as a volunteer. He became famous in India under Pierre André de Suffren. In July 1783, he was made Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis by Louis XVI. He became captain in 1784. Louis Thomas was the witness at the marriage of André de Rambaud and Agathe de Rambaud on March 7, 1785 in the parish of Saint Louis in Versailles. The first witness is their friend Pierre André de Suffren.
During the Revolution
Commander of the Prudente when the French Revolution broke out, he received command of the naval army of Brest in October 1793. Responsible for going to meet a convoy grains coming from the United States, he stood up to the British squadron of Admiral Howe in the battles of May 28 and 29, 1794. He was beaten by Admiral Bridport in the naval battle of Groix on June 23, 1795 (Landing emigrants in Quiberon). Elected to the Council of Five Hundred by the department of Morbihan, he sat on the right and had to flee during the Coup d'Etat of 18 Fructidor Year V (September 4, 1797).
Under the Consulate and the Empire
He was reintegrated into the army in February 1800 and commanded the fleet of the Santo Domingo expedition. Captain General of Martinique in April 1802. He could not resist the British in 1809. He was brought before a commission of inquiry and then returned to service. His name appears on the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile.