Charles Henri Hector, Count of Estaing

Count of Estaing Charles Henri Hector
Portrait by Jean-Baptiste Le Brun, 1769.
Native name	Charles Henri d'Estaing
Birth name	Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector
Born	(1729-11-24)November 24, 1729 Château de Ravel, Auvergne, Kingdom of France
Died	28 April 1794(1794-04-28) (aged 64) Paris, French Republic
Allegiance	Kingdom of France  French First Republic
Service / branch	French Army  French Navy
Rank	Lieutenant General, Admiral
Battles / wars	War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War Battle of St. Lucia Capture of St. Lucia Capture of Grenada Battle of Grenada Siege of Savannah
Spouse(s)	Marie-Sophie Rousselot ​ ​ (m. 1746; died 1792)​
Children	1

Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, Count of Estaing (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ batist ʃaʁl ɑ̃ʁi ɛktɔʁ]; 24 November 1729 – 28 April 1794) was a French military officer and writer. He began his service as a soldier in the War of the Austrian Succession, briefly spending time as a prisoner of war of the British during the Seven Years' War. Naval exploits during the latter war prompted him to change branches of service, and he transferred to the French Navy.

Following France's entry into the American War of Independence in 1778, d'Estaing led a fleet to aid the American rebels. He participated in a failed Franco-American siege of Newport, Rhode Island, in 1778, and the equally unsuccessful 1779 Siege of Savannah. He did have success in the Caribbean before returning to France in 1780. His difficulties working with American counterparts are cited among the reasons these operations in North America failed.

Although d'Estaing sympathized with revolutionaries during the French Revolution, he held a personal loyalty to the French royal family. Because of this he came under suspicion, and was executed by guillotine in the Reign of Terror.