Picture of Nicolas Jarry

Nicolas Jarry (1735 - 1783)


Like several other privateers that sailed from the Dutch Republic on commission Nicolas Jarry was not born in the Republic. Jarry was born in Nantes. He served under Pierre Le Turcq as a lieutenant during the voyage before Le Turcqs last one. As a reward for his courageous behaviour he got the command of the Vlissinger from the ship owner that had also provided Le Turcq with his ships. On 9 April 1782 he went privateering on his own and was able to capture 11 prizes in one month.

After several more ventures he embarked on his most famous voyage. On the 24 October 1782 he captured and brought in an English Brig at the Harbour of Cherbourg. After this he sailed into the Bay ot Torbay where he captured an British merchant ship under the noses of two British men-of-war and managed to sail away, right through a squadron of twelve British men-of-war. In the end Jarry lost the British merchant ship to another man-of-war, a frigate. Sailing again to the English coast he attacked two more ships. They were under such heavy attacks of Jarry that their only escape route left to them was beaching their ships. Some time later Jarry appears to have captured a brig and brought it in at Le Havre.

Nicolas Jarry met his end in January 1783. After having captured 5 prizes one of them got stuck on a beach. Jarry was trying to get the ship loose when he was discovered by a British cutter that immediately attacked him. After a battle of 1 and a half hour the cutter was aided by a passing British frigate. Jarry was mortally wounded by a last barrage of scrapnel and died in agony. In a drawing of him he is shown with a honorary sword that is similar to the one Le Turcq got from his ship's owner. The drawing was made by J. Perkois in 1782.


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For this text I drew heavily on:
Prud'Homme van Reine, R.B. + EWvdO
Kapers op de kust : Nederlandse kaapvaart en piraterij 1500 - 1800 / R.B. Prud'Homme van Reine, E.W. van der Oest. - Vlissingen : ADZ Vlissingen, 1991
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