Nicolas Durand de Villegaignon

Nicolas Durand De Villegaignon

Nicolas Durand, sieur de Villegaignon, also Villegagnon (Villegaignon, Seine et Marne, France, 1510 – Beauvais-en-Gâtinais, 9 January 1571) was a Commander of the Knights of Malta, and later a French naval officer (vice-admiral of Brittany) who attempted to help the Huguenots in France escape persecution.

A notable public figure in his time, Villegaignon was a mixture of soldier, scientist, explorer, adventurer and entrepreneur. He fought pirates in the Mediterranean and participated in several wars.

Villegagnon was a nephew of Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, Grand Master of the Order of Malta. He was ordained as a Knight of the Order in 1521.