Hippolyte de Sade de Vaudronne
Hippolyte-Augustin de Sade de Vaudronne (3 October 1710 – 18 September 1780) was a French Navy officer who served during the War of American Independence. He was born into a noble family in Tarascon and was a distant cousin of the Marquis de Sade, as well as the uncle of Louis de Sade.
He joined the Navy as a garde-marine in April 1730 and was promoted to ensign in April 1738. In 1757 he led a mission to Algiers, commanding the 30-gun frigate Rose. The following year he sailed Rose to Malta and Toulon. On 4 March he captured the British privateer Tiger. On 30 July Rose encountered the 32-gun HMS Thames; Sade beached and scuttled Rose to prevent capture, and his crew were rescued by Triton.
In 1760 he commanded the 54-gun Hippopotame and cruised in the Eastern Mediterranean from 21 June 1760 to 22 January 1761 in a squadron under Rochemore. He led another Mediterranean expedition from 25 May to 10 December 1762 in Bompar’s squadron. In 1770 he commanded the frigate Engageante, sailed to Malta, and reported on the Battle of Chesma. In 1773 he captained the 74-gun Bourgogne, with La Poype-Vertrieux as his first officer.
In early 1780 Sade led a division of six ships and five frigates to reinforce the Spanish fleet blockading Gibraltar. A gale on 2 January damaged several ships, forcing them into harbor for repairs and allowing Rodney to attack Spanish shipping in the action of 8 January 1780 and at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 16 January.
Later in 1780 Sade became Chef d’Escadre and commanded the van of Guichen’s fleet aboard the 80-gun Triomphant, with Gras-Préville as his flag captain. He fought at the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780. He died aboard Triomphant off Cadiz on 18 September 1780, aged 69.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:50 (CET).