BRUIX, Eustache (Fort-Dauphin, Santo Domingo, July 17, 1759 - Paris, March 18, 1805).
born from a distinguished family, originally from Béarn, he embarked as a volunteer on a merchant vessel. Two years later (1778), he was guard of the navy, made his first campaign on the frigate the Fox, and his second on the Concorde. He served in the various squadrons that came to the aid of the United States by participating in the American Revolutionary War. He was made ensign.
Appointed commander of the Pivert, he was charged, with M. de Puységur, with drawing up the maps intended to trace the coasts and the debouquements of Saint-Domingue. Lieutenant at the start of the Revolution and member of the naval academy in 1791, captain on January 1, 1793, dismissed as a noble the following October.
Retired near Brest, he wrote a memoir on the Means of supplying the navy by the only productions of the French territory that Napoleon Bonaparte read and appreciated.
Called back into service in 1795, he was employed again under the ministry of Truguet, who entrusted him with the Éole until he was sent to the squadron of Villaret-Joyeuse, as major general.
Eustache Bruix was deputy division chief to Admiral Justin Bonaventure Morard of Wales during the Irish expedition. Lazare Hoche noticed him and had him appointed rear-admiral in May 1797.
Minister of the Navy from April 28, 1798 to July 11, 1799, he himself took the lead of the fleet that left Brest, and tried in vain to supply the Egyptian Expedition.
Masséna, besieged in Genoa, needed help; Bruix runs to Brest where the French fleet was blocked by the English, takes advantage of a gust of wind which disperses the enemy ships, goes to supply Genoa, rallies the Spaniards on his return, and returns with them to the port of Brest. After this bold expedition, Bruix surrendered the portfolio of the navy and took command of the fleet assembled on the island of Aix, and which was to sail for Spain. But the enemy reinforced the cruise; the admiral fell ill, and the peace of Amiens came to prevent the fleet from leaving.
Vice-admiral, on March 13, 1799, he was privy to the coup d'etat of 18 brumaire year VIII (November 9, 1799). Napoleon Bonaparte named him Admiral in 1801 and Councilor of State the following year.
The war having broken out again, Napoleon conceived the project of a new descent into England, and entrusted to Bruix the command of the flotilla of the camp of Boulogne which the army was to transport. He deployed all his energy there but was forced to return to Paris where he died of tuberculosis on March 18, 1805, barely 45 years old. His premature death deprived the French fleet of one of its best leaders. His name appears on the Arc de Triomphe.
the bulletin of law n° 198 of 8 floréal year VI
by decree n° 1814 an order of the executive board appoints citizen Bruix:to the ministry of the navy and the colonies. The Executive Directory decrees that Citizen Bruix Rear Admiral is appointed Minister of the Navy and Colonies, replacing Citizen Pleville-Le-Peley who has resigned. This Order is printed in the Law Bulletin. For conforming shipment signed Merlin president by executive board. Signed by Secretary General Lagarde.