Francesco Caracciolo

Prince Francesco Caracciolo (18 January 1752 – 30 June 1799) was an Italian naval officer and revolutionary.

Early life and British service

Caracciolo was born in Naples into an aristocratic family. It is likely that he was named after Francis Caracciolo, a saint of the Catholic Church and Francesco's ancestor. He joined the British Royal Navy and learned his seamanship under George Rodney. He fought with distinction in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War, against the Barbary pirates, and against the French Navy at the Battle of Genoa under Lord Hotham. The Bourbons placed the greatest confidence in his skill.

To Sicily and back When on the approach of the French to Naples Ferdinand IV of Naples and Marie Caroline of Austria fled to Sicily on board Horatio Nelson's ship, (December 1798), Caracciolo escorted them on the frigate Sannita. He was the only prominent Neapolitan trusted by the king, but the admiral's loyalty was shaken by Ferdinand's flight. On reaching Palermo, Caracciolo asked permission to return to Naples to look after his own private affairs (January 1799). This was granted, but when he arrived at Naples, he found all the aristocracy and educated middle classes infatuated with the French revolutionary ideas, and he himself was received with great enthusiasm. In July 1799, king Ferdinand IV signed the decree of suppression.