Jean Bart

Jean Bart (October 21, 1651 - April 27, 1702) was a French naval commander of the 17th century.

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Born in Dunkirk as the son of a fisherman, Bart served when young in the Dutch navy, but when war broke out between Louis XIV and the United Provinces in 1672 he entered the French service. He gained great distinction in the Mediterranean, where he held an irregular sort of commission, unable due to his low birth to receive a command in the navy.

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He had such success, however, that he became a lieutenant in 1679. He rose rapidly to the rank of captain and then to that of admiral. The Peace of Ryswick (1697) put a close to his active service. Many anecdotes tell of the courage and bluntness of the uncultivated sailor, who became the popular hero of the French naval service. The town of Dunkirk has honoured his memory by erecting a statue and by naming a public square after him.

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October 21: October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining....

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Dunkirk: :For other uses of Dunkirk or Dunkerque, see Dunkirk (disambiguation)....

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