Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille

Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille (11 November 1759 – 9 April 1799 ) was a French Navy officer.

Career Born to a family of sailors, Lejoille started sailing at seven as a boy on the merchantman commanded by his father. He then studied at Abbeville and Amiens before embarking as a helmsman on the fluyt Tamponne in 1776. In 1780, he joined the crew of the Degranbourg, a merchantman chartered by the Crown in Suffren's fleet, on which he took part in the Battle of Porto Praya. At the arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, Lejoille took command of Degranbourg while his father returned to France. which he ferried to Toulon. On 14, an incident occurred between Céleste and the Danish brig Franc-Navire, under Captain Elepsem, that triggered an investigation by the National Convention. Hennequin states that while crossing, Céleste captured the British war-brig Shout, of 18 guns. However, severely wounded at the right arm and leg, he was transferred to the flagship and convalesced in Genoa for eight months. which he lost en route. Near Crete, Généreux met with HMS Leander, which she captured in the action of 18 August 1798. The British officers were released on parole.

British sources alleged the crew of Généreux, including Lejoille, engaged in looting after taking possession of Leander. The French captain who ferried the paroled officers of Leander to Trieste attacked the charges, and in his Batailles navales de la France, Onésime-Joachim Troude accused William James of further "augmenting" the accusations, which were originally published in the Gazette de Vienne. Léon Guérin claimed the allegations stemmed entirely from the Life of Nelson and that it furthermore fabricated a report by Lejoille.

During the Siege of Corfu, Lejoille led Généreux to assist General Chabot and to harass the Russian blockade. As the situation of Corfu became more critical, Lejoille decided to organise a relief operation: he sailed to Ancona with Généreux and the brig Rivoli, where he loaded a 1000-man force, along with ammunition and food. One month later, he sailed back to Corfu.

Captain Touffet replaced Lejoille, and the fort and city of Brindisi surrendered after a two-hour battle. Généreux was refloated and awaited news from Corfu, which had in fact fallen on 3 March 1799; when informed, she put to sail and returned to Ancona.

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