Zacharie Allemand Zacharie Jacques Théodore Allemand , ( Port - Louis , 1 May 1762 – Toulon , 2 March 1828 ) was a French admiral . Biography . Early career . Allemand was born to a captain of the East Indian Company . Orphaned at an early age , he started his sailing career at 12 as an apprentice on " Superbe " , an East Indiaman . In 1778 , at the outbreak of the American War of Independence , he volunteered for Navy service of " Sévère " , in Suffren ' s squadron . By the end of the war , Allemand had risen to lieutenant de frégate and served on " Annibal " . He later went on to serve on the fluyts " Baleine " and " Outarde " in the Indian Ocean . In late 1786 , Allemand returned to France to benefit from a reform of the Navy by which he could obtain a permanent commission of " sous - lieutenant de vaisseau " for his service . In this capacity , he served on a number of frigates in the Caribbean and off America . French Revolution and First Empire . Allemand was promoted to full lieutenant in 1792 , and had risen to captain by the outbreak of the War of the First Coalition in 1793 . He was given command of a light squadron , with his flag on the frigate " Carmagnole " . Engaging in commerce raiding , he also captured the frigate " Thames " , helpless after her fight against " Uranie " the previous day , making the first capture of a Royal Navy ship of the war and thus being heralded as a hero by the National Convention . In 1794 , Allemand was given command of the 74 - gun " Duquesne " and carried out raids against British commerce outposts in Sierra Leone and Guinea , capturing 21 merchantmen . After returning to the Mediterranean , Allemand was incorporated in Admiral Martin ' s squadron . Martin and Allemand disliked each other , and their relations soured to the point where Allemand was nearly relieved of duty for insubordination after the battle of Cape Noli . Promoted to " chef de division " ( rear admiral ) , Allemand took command of a division in Richery ' s squadron . He was sent with 2 ships of the line and one frigate to raid British outposts in Labrador , and on his way back captured a convoy worth 80 million francs , making 1 , 800 prisoners including the Governor General of Canada , his family , and a number of officers , returning to Brest in November 1796 . Upon his arrival , Allemand was relieved of duty for " brutality towards his crews " and " rudeness towards his passengers " . Reinstated , Allemand took command of the 74 - gun " Tyrannicide " and took part in the Cruise of Bruix . On 11 July 1799 , Bruix was replaced by Latouche Tréville , who again relieved Allemand from duty for " rudeness " in 1800 . The next year , Allemand commanded the " Aigle " . After serving in office duties in 1802 , Allemand received command of the " Magnanime " , in Admiral Missiessy ' s squadron , on which he departed on 11 January 1805 for the Saint - Domingue expedition . Upon the return of the squadron to Rochefort , Missiessy was disgraced and fell ill , giving effective command to Allemand . On 22 June , Allemand was officially made chief of the squadron , and tasked with a diversion manoeuver that would bring him to rejoin Villeneuve ' s squadron in Ferrol : Allemand ' s expedition of 1805 was a vast commerce raid that led the capture of over an hundred merchantmen and of the 64 - gun HMS " Calcutta " . Allemand eluded the three squadrons sent to chase him , earning his division the nickname of " invisible squadron " . This success earned Allemand the consideration of Napoleon , in spite of severe notations from Decrès criticising his character . He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 January 1806 . In 1809 , Allemand was vice - admiral and commanded the squadrons of Brest and Rochefort . His insufficient defensive dispositions allowed the British to launch a fireship attack on his squadron at anchor , starting the Battle of the Basque Roads . Allemand reacted to the attack merely by giving his captains their liberty of manoeuver and concentrating on the safety of his own ship , the 120 - gun " Océan " , which sailed to the haven of the Charente River after throwing part of her artillery overboard . The resulting loss of four ships and two frigates was blamed on captains , four of whom were court - martialed with one relieved of duty and one executed by firing squad , but Allemand ' s role was never questioned , much to the outrage of the officers . Allemand was quickly transferred to the command of the Mediterranean fleet to prevent possibility of his hearing by the court of Rochefort . On 15 August 1810 , he was made a Count of the Empire . In Toulon , Allemand commanded a squadron that remained at anchor until the end of the Empire . He engaged in a number of raws , fights and even brawls with his officers , and having very bad relations with the maritime prefect Emeriau . In 1813 , Allemand was made aid to Missiessy in Flessingue , but violently refused the office , arguing that he could now serve only as chief commander . This last outburst led to his disgrace and he was forcibly retired . Restoration . Allemand attempted to return to Navy service during the Bourbon Restoration , but to no avail . In May 1814 , he was made a member of the Académie des Sciences , which he presided from August . In June , he was made a Knight of the Order of Saint Louis . During the Hundred Days , in March 1815 , Allemand offered his services to Napoleon , but Decrès refused to reinstate him . Allemand was the only general officer to be thus rebuked . In the following years , Allemand devoted his efforts to Freemasonry , creating an ephemeral dissident Order named " " Suprême Conseil du Prado " " , of which he proclaimed himself " " Souverain Grand Commandeur " " Allemand died in Toulon on 2 March 1826 .