As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

Home / People / François Joseph Paul de Grasse

Historical person

François Joseph Paul de Grasse

François Joseph Paul de Grasse was a French admiral whose fleet played a decisive role in the American Revolutionary War. In 1781 he defeated or deterred British naval forces in the Chesapeake and prevented the relief of Cornwallis at Yorktown.

The resulting Franco-American victory forced the surrender of a major British army and helped bring the war toward a negotiated end. De Grasse was later defeated and captured at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782.

Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Hurricane’s Eye shows Admiral de Grasse as the indispensable naval partner in Washington and Rochambeau’s Yorktown strategy, bringing French sea power to the Chesapeake and preventing British relief. William R. Forstchen’s Victory at Yorktown dramatises the same coalition, with de Grasse’s fleet making the land siege possible. Dewey Lambdin’s The French Admiral views his victory from the British side as Alan Lewrie fights in the Battle of the Chesapeake and sees Cornwallis isolated. Alexander Kent’s To Glory We Steer moves into the Caribbean aftermath, where British frigate warfare continues against the French naval power de Grasse represented during the Revolution’s final campaigns.

Series

Historical novels and book series featuring François Joseph Paul de Grasse (3 series)

Richard Bolitho in Order

by Alexander Kent 28 books 4.5(44,733)

The Richard Bolitho novels follow a Cornish Royal Navy officer from his years as a midshipman in 1772 through the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and the War of 1812. Richard rises from junior officer to admiral while the series examines command, discipline, loyalty…

All books in this series

George Washington in Order

by various authors 3 books 4.6(1,343)

The George Washington trilogy follows the American Revolution through three moments when the independence movement could still have failed. Beginning with the desperate winter campaign of 1776, it moves through the deprivation and political strain of Valley Forge before concluding with the Franco-American victory at Yorktown. George Washington…

All books in this series

Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures in Order

by Dewey Lambdin 25 books 4.3(61,103)

The Alan Lewrie Naval Adventures follow a reluctant young rake forced into the Royal Navy in 1780 and carried through the final years of the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Alan Lewrie develops from an inexperienced midshipman into a resourceful captain, commodore…

All books in this series

Non Fiction

Non Fiction featuring François Joseph Paul de Grasse (1 book)

Biographies, histories and other non-fiction are listed separately from the historical novels above.