LINOIS, Charles-Alexandre Duran (Count of (Brest, January 27, 1761 - Versailles, December 2, 1848).
A volunteer for fifteen years, in 1776, Linois served in the Orvilliers squadron in 1778, then in the campaign in the Channel and in Cadiz. ] was ensigned in 1781, he served in Ile d France and the West Indies. Lieutenant of port in May 1789, Linois leaves in 179 for a campaign in the seas of India. Back in March 1794, he was instructed by Villaret de Joyeuse to meet the American wheat convoy brought back by Van Stabel and captured by the English. Captain on his release, a year later, he was again taken prisoner in the battle of Groix, June 1, 23, 1795. Promoted to division chief in 1796, Linois was part of the Irish expedition. He was appointed chief of staff of the Brest squadron and rear-admiral in April 1799. In the Mediterranean with Bruix in 1799, second in command of the Ganteaume squadron, he attacked the island of Elba in May 1801, then rallies Cadiz and successfully fights an English squadron in the bay of Algeciras, July 6 and 13, 1801. In January 1802 he commands a division and brings troops to Santo Domingo. Bonaparte entrusted him in December 1803 with the command of the naval forces in the Indian Ocean. There he chases English merchant ships into the China Sea. It was when he returned to France that he had the audacity and the awkwardness to attack Admiral Warren's squadron off Cape Verde. He is wounded and taken prisoner. The English keep this formidable adversary until the fall of the Empire. Napoleon made him count of the Empire in August 1810. Louis XVIII appointed him governor of Guadeloupe. The rallying of Linois to Napoleon during the Hundred Days led to the intervention of the English who forced him to capitulate and handed him over to the government of the second Restoration. Linois was brought before a military tribunal which acquitted him in March 1816. Immediately retired, Linois was however named honorary vice-admiral in 1825.