Étienne-Joseph de Saint-Germain d'Apchon


Étienne-Joseph de Saint-Germain d'Apchon was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence, and became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Biography

Apchon was born to a family from Forez.
He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in 1740, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1756.
He captained the 24-gun frigate Gracieuse in the squadron under Du Chaffault for the Larache expedition in 1765. the year after, he transferred on the 32-gun frigate Pléïade.
In 1770, Apchon was promoted to Captain. The year after, he was in command of the 40-gun frigate Atalante, which he sailed to Toulon, Tunis and Malta. In 1773, he captained the 80-gun Languedoc.
In 1778, he was captain of the 74-gun Protecteur, part of the squadron under Vice-amiral d'Estaing. He took part in the Battle of St. Lucia on 15 December 1778.
In 1780, he took part in the joint French-Spanish fleet under Córdova. Later that year, he was appointed governor of Fort Lupin, a position he held until 1783. In 1783, Apchon was part in the inquiry into the events of the Battle of the Saintes.