French Revolution
In 1792 he came back to Saint-Malo and discovered the political changes France had undergone in the wake of the French Revolution. He sailed to Isle de France (present-day Mauritius) in August on a commercial brig, and was informed on his arrival of the outbreak of war against Britain. Surcouf served as first officer of the 40-gun frigate Cybèle during the Action of 22 October 1794.
Read more about this topic: Robert Surcouf
Famous quotes containing the words french revolution, french and/or revolution:
“The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it. The systems that fail are those that rely on the permanency of human nature, and not on its growth and development. The error of Louis XIV was that he thought human nature would always be the same. The result of his error was the French Revolution. It was an admirable result.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“The French are nice people. I allow them to sing and to write, and they allow me to do whatever I like.”
—Jules Mazarin (c. 1602–1661)
“The revolution as we call it is not necessarily an uprising in the streets or the old business of seizing power. Though the Left has always imagined it was. The revolution is change. Not merely rearrangement, but a deep emotional type of transformation that must also take place inside us. It’s a better way to live.”
—Kate Millett (b. 1934)