Jean-François Tartu

Jean-François Tartu (Recouvrance, 11 October 1751 – Uranie, off Gascogne, 24 October 1793) was a French Navy officer, and hero of the French Revolution.

Tartu took part in the American War of Independence as a non-commissioned officer, taking part in several significant battles in the fleet of Admiral d'Estaing. After the end of the war, he worked at the naval foundry of Indret.

During the French Revolution, Tartu became a minor political figure; he assured the interim direction of the foundry, and at the outbreak of the war with Britain, obtained command of the frigate Uranie. He was killed in action on 24 October 1793 while disabling HMS Thames. Tartu was hailed as a hero, and Uranie was renamed Tartu in his honour.

Career Tartu was born to a family of fishers. He joined the French Royal Navy in 1766 as a sailor, at the age of 15, raising to master gunner. and the 20-gun corvette , under Captain Fonteneau, On 21 December, between off Guadeloupe, the frigate squadron met a British four-ship division under Rear-Admiral Parker, comprising the 74-gun , , and the 64-gun , sent by Rear-Admiral Rowley to intercept it.

Returned to France, Tartu was appointed to the , again under Marigny, In 1786, he was promoted to sous-lieutenant de vaisseau,

Service on Uranie

In June, Tartu returned to Indret to dispose of rusted cannonball from Rochefort in the foundry and to recruit crewmembers. Uranie departed Rochefort in August, in a frigate squadron under Captain Allemand consisting of the frigates , , and Uranie with the brig-corvette . Uranie captured two Spanish brigs, which were scuttled, a wheat merchantmen from Genoa and a British merchantman.

Legacy Tartu was hailed as a hero, and Uranie was renamed after him.

Tartu's 10-year-old son was aboard Uranie and took part in the action of 24 October 1793 as a boy; contemporary propaganda has it that on his death bed, Tartu told him

Two destroyers were later named in his honour (a and a ).