Jacques Cassard

Jacques Cassard (30 September 1679 – 1740) was a French naval officer and privateer. Born on 30 September 1679 to a family of merchants of Nantes, Cassard began a career as a sailor at age 14 on the merchantmen owned by his family. In January 1697, he joined the French Navy on bombship Éclatante. In 1700, Cassard became a merchantman captain. The next year, the War of the Spanish Succession broke out, and Cassard converted to a privateer. In 1705, he captained the privateer Saint Guillaume, capturing 12 merchantmen and raiding Cork. Two years later, he captured 13 merchantmen with the Duchesse Anne, earning a rank in the Navy. In 1709, Cassard, promoted to Commander, was tasked to escort a 25-ship food convoy on the 68-gun Éclatant. On 29 April, supported by Sérieux, he defeated five English ships, allowing the convoy to safely reach Marseille. The next year, Cassard lead a squadron comprising the 74-gun Parfait, the 58-gun Sérieux and the 50-gun Phénix and the 60-gun Sirène, with his flag on Parfait.