QUESNE, MARQUIS DU QUESNE, admiral of the naval
forces of France, and one of the greatest men of the seven-
teenth century, was born in Normandy in the year 1610.
He contributed to the defeat of the naval power of Spain at
Gattari; he was dangerously wounded before Barcelona in
1642, and on other occasions; and having entered into the
service of the Swedes, he became vice-admiral, and entirely
defeated the Danes, killing their admiral, and taking his
ship. He was recalled into France in 1647, and commanded
the squadron sent to Naples. The naval affairs of France
being much decayed, he fitted out divers ships for the re-
lief of the royal army that blockaded Bordeaux, which was
the principal cause of the surrender of the town. He was
very fortunate in the wars of Sicily, where he defeated the
Dutch thrice, and De Ruyter was killed. He also obliged
the Algerines to sue in a very humble manner for peace
from France. In short, Asia, Africa, and Europe, felt the
effects of his valour. He was a Protestant; yet the king
bestowed on him the land of Bouchet, and, to immortalize
his memory, gave it the name of that great man. He died
in 1688.