Jean-Léon Émeric
Jean-Léon Émeric was a French naval officer. Career. In late 1808, Émeric, ranking Lieutenant, served as first officer on the frigate "Junon". Under Jean-Baptiste-Augustin Rousseau, he sailed for a cruise from le Havre to Cherbourg, and then ferrying troops from Cherbourg to Basse-Terre. On 20 December 1808, "Junon" fought the British 18-gun corvette HMS "St Christopher", but did not give chase for fear of lacking wind and exposing himself to the British blockade. "Junon" arrived at the Saintes in mid-January 1809, and departed on 7 February. The next day, she was  detected by the brigs HMS "Asp" and "Supérieure", who shadowed "Junon" and harassed her. The cannonade attracted the attention of the frigates HMS "Latona" and "Horatio", who gave chased and started the action of 10 February 1809. Émeric assumed command when Rousseau was mortally wounded, and fought until his mainmast collapsed; surrounded by three opponents, Émeric struck his colours. The mizzen and foremasts collapsed soon after the ensign had been hoisted down. In 1813, Émeric had been promoted to Commander, and served in the division of Cherbourg, under contre-amiral Amable Troude, commanding the frigate "Iphigénie". In early 1814, he  led a two-frigate squadron comprising "Iphigénie" and "Alcmène", under Commander Ducrest de Villeneuve, for a cruise between the Azores and Cap-Vert, off Guinea. On 16 January 1814, the frigates encountered a British squadron, comprising the 74-gun third-rate ship of the line , her prize, the ex-French letter of marque brig "Jason", and ; they attempted to flee, but "Alcmène" was soon overrun and captured. "Iphigénie" escaped, but from their capture of "Alcmène" the British learnt her planned route, and managed to bring her into action on 20 January, capturing her. In 1818, Émeric captained the fluyt "Ariège  for a cruise between Genoa and Palerme. In 1821, he had been promoted to captain and was in command of the Romulus", which had been razéed and renamed "Guerrière". In 1822, he ferried Guilleau de Formont, French consul in Sardigna, from Toulon to Cagliari, and sailed on to Algiers to transport despatches, before returning to Toulon.