[FRANCE] Charles EugËne Gabriel de La Croix de Castries (1727-1801) French marshal. He was named Secretary of State of the Navy on 13 October 1780 on the recommandation of his friend Jacques Necker. He remained in this post until 24 August 1787. In 1783, he was made a marshal of France. He reorganised the fleet and had a new naval strategy adopted by the Grand Conseil, that the navy's ships of the line should be kept at sea while a flotilla blockaded the Royal Navy and kept it in port. This strategy led to French naval successes in the American War of Independence. He fought with distinction in the Seven Years' War and all Louis XV's campaigns. "Mestre de camp" of the rÈgiment du Roi-Cavalerie from 26 March 1744, he was marÈchal de camp and commandant gÈnÈral of the cavalry from 1748. In 1756, he commanded the expeditionary force sent to St Lucia, and the Carenage quarter of the island was renamed Castries after him. He next distinguished himself in the Battle of Rossbach (5 November 1757), in which he was wounded twice. Becoming lieutenant gÈnÈral (on 28 December 1758), he became maÓtre de camp gÈnÈral of the cavalry on 16 April 1759. At the Battle of Clostercamp (16 October 1760), through his sang-froid he saved a situation when all seemed lost. Offered here is a Letter Signed, VERSAILLES, 1786, 1-page, approx. 8-1/4 x 12-1/2". Not translated.Picture of Castries is NOT included.

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