Louis of Couldre of Bretonnière
Louis Good Jean of Couldre of Bretonnière , born the 6 or July 8th 1741 with the castle of Bretonnière with Marchésieux, deceased on November 25th 1809 in Paris, was a sailor, first originator of the roads of Cherbourg.
Engaged in the Royal Navy at 14 years, officer at 16 years, it takes part in the Guerre Seven Year old and in the Guerre of independence of the United States of America. At 40 years, it is named Captain (1781), for important facts of weapons.
In 1763, it engages of important hydrographic work to specify the coastal charts.
Under the impulse of Louis XVI which wants to build a large military port on the north-western coasts, the duke of Harcourt, governor of Normandy, and Suffren, general Lieutenant of the naval armies, charge it in 1776, because of its perfect knowledge of the coasts, to inspect with Pierre Méchain, the coasts between Dunkirk and Granville.
The following year, it submits his report, where it recommends Cherbourg, proposer to close the roads of 4 kilometers by a lost stone dam, with 4 kilometers of the coast. Sartine then De Castries validates this choice in 1780. Three years later, the method of construction remains to be sliced.
For Bretonnière, it is necessary to sit the dam on old immersed war buildings and lost stones, and to build it on its upper part. But one prefers the innovating project of Louis-Alexandre de consistent Cessart in immersion of 90 wood cones ballasted of 20 meters height stones.
In 1784, whereas of Cessart responsible general of the project is named, Bretonnière returns from America as commander of the Marine of the wearing of Cherbourg. He accommodates in June 1786 Louis XVI come to take part in the immersion of the ninth cone of the dam. But this technique proves to be unable to resist the storms. Only 20 cones are launched in five years at the dawn of the French revolution. Also one returns to the preliminary draft of Bretonnière in 1788, this one finding himself only to assume work after the departure of the Dumouriez governor and the chief engineer of Cessart in 1789. In September 1791, the post of Commander of navy disappears forcing Bretonnière with the resignation on March 8th, 1792.
Denounced by the Mountain of Valognes, it remains two weeks in prison in 1793. Refusing to be reinstated in the navy like simple sailor, as proposes it Carpentier, it goes up to Paris. The First Bonarparte consul reinstates it as captain (1803), but refuses that it takes part in the committee of work of Cherbourg, preferring to appoint it military chief of Boulogne then of Dunkirk.
Impotent, it takes its retirement by decree of April 7th 1804 and dies in Paris five years later at 68 years.
Viscount by his birth, Count by royal decree in 1787, he was member of the Ordre of Cincinnatus, on recommendation of George Washington.
Sources
- Bretonnière, father of the wearing of Cherbourg , the Free English Channel, October 16th, 2005
- Bretonnière, inventor of the wearing of Cherbourg , Reflets, town of Tourlaville