Robert Surcouf was a successful French privateer of the Napoleonic period, who was offered naval commissions but refused them because he preferred privateering. His most famous exploit was taking the British East Indiaman
Triton, a ship much larger than his own; realizing that he was outgunned, Surcouf boarded the Triton and his men took it by force, killing ten of its crew. This ended up in a painting by Léon Trémisot (above). Surcouf was eventually awarded the Legion of Honour by Napoleon.
But these days Surcouf is most famous
for a single line, which is about as well attested as such things ever are:
When a British captive officer challenged Surcouf with the words "You French fight for money while we fight for honour", Surcouf replied "Each of us fights for what he lacks most."
2 comments:
I'm very tempted to believe that's 100% genuine, if only because it's so wonderfully, wittily French.
Also it seems clear from the record that Surcouf was a very impressive character who dazzled many of those he met, so he seems like the kind of man who could do this.
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