Suffren de Saint Tropez, Pierre André de (1726–1788)

French admiral. He entered the French navy in 1743 and was made captain in 1772. He was twice captured by the British. After serving in Malta he fought five fiercely contested if indecisive battles against the British under Admiral Hughes in 1782 and 1783. He returned to France at the conclusion of the Treaty of Versailles, and was created a vice-admiral of France. Suffren was born in Saint Cannat, Provence, France.