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Peter Ribouleau


NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
First Known Service13.10.1780CSORN
A.K.A.RibboleauADM 6/25
Last Known Service9.11.1846CSORN
Date of Death16.12.1847NBD1849

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
13.10.17801781
Prince William (64) 1780-1817
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain's Servant
NBD1849
29.4.178130.4.1781Battle of Fort Royal 
31.8.1793 LieutenantCSORN
31.8.179312.1793
Victory (100) 1765-2019
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
, Lieutenant
NBD1849
12.17934.1794
Arethuse (38) 1793-1796
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
1795 Renamed "Undaunted"
, Lieutenant, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
18.4.17949.7.1794
Glory (98) 1788-1825
British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
, Seventh Lieutenant ADM 6/25/33
ADM 6/25
1.6.1794 Glorious 1st of June 
10.7.1794 
Barfleur (98) 1768-1819
British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
, Second Lieutenant ADM 6/25/59
ADM 6/25
c.8.17941795
Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
, Lieutenant
NBD1849
179524.7.1796
Monarch (74) 1765-1813
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Lieutenant
NBD1849
14.3.1795 Action off Genoa 
13.7.1795 Battle of Hyeres 
25.7.1796 CommanderCSORN
4.180016.4.1802
Astraea (16) 1781-1808
British 16 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Commander, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1714
7.1801 Invalided homeNBD1849
29.4.1802 CaptainCSORN
25.2.18224.1825
Semiramis (36) 1808-1844
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
NBD1849
10.1.1837 Superannuated Rear-AdmiralNBD1849
17.8.1840 Rear-AdmiralNL1843
9.11.1846 Vice-AdmiralNBD1849
1847 Received the Naval General Service Medal with a clasp for the Defeat of the French Fleet, capture of six sail of the line and one sunk whilst serving on Glory on 1794/06/01ADM 171/8

Notes on Officer


Biography - A Naval Biographical Dictionary by William Richard O'ByrneNBD1849

RIBOULEAU. (Vice-Admiral, of the White, 1846. f-p., 19; h-p., 48.)

Peter Ribouleau died 16 Dec. 1847.

This officer entered the Navy, 13 Oct. 1780, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Prince William, Capt. Stair Douglas, with whom, after sharing in Hood’s action with the Comte de Grasse off St. Kitts in 1781, he removed in succession, on the West India and Home stations, to the Triumph 74, Grafton 50, and Cambridge 74. During the peace he served on the coast of North America, again in the West Indies, and at Home, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Assistance, Commodore Sir Chas. Douglas, Goliath, Capt. A. Dickson, Actaeon, Capt. J. Hanwell, Goliath and Alcide, both commanded by Sir A. Douglas, and Duke flag-ship of Lord Hood. On accompanying the officer last mentioned to theMediterranean in the Victory 100, of which ship he was created a Lieutenant 31 Aug. 1793, he witnessed the occupation of Toulon. In April, 1794, after having served for a short time on board L’Aréthuse French frigate, he joined the Glory 98, Capt. John Elphinstone, part of the force engaged under Lord Howe in the action of the 1st of June. His next appointments were – to the Barfleur 98 and Monarch 74, each bearing the flag of Sir Geo. Keith Elphinstone. In the latter ship he co-operated in 1795 in the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope. Attaining the rank of Commander 25 July, 1796, he joined in that capacity, in April, 1800, the Astrea troop-ship, in which he accompanied the expedition of 1801 to Egypt; where, on 8 March in that year, he served with the launches containing the field artillery under Sir Wm. Sidney Smith, and assisted at the debarkation of the army in Aboukir Bay. He also landed and acted in unison with the troops. He invalided in the following July; was promoted for his services to Post-rank 29 April, 1802; served afterwards in the Sea Fencibles at Margate and Dartmouth; and commanded, from 25 Feb. 1822 until April, 1825, the Semiramis 42, flag-ship of Lord Colville at Cork. He became a Rear-Admiral on the Retired List 10 Jan. 1837, and on the Active 17 Aug. 1840; and a Vice-Admiral 9 Nov. 1846. His wife died 29 July, 1845. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.


Biography - Royal Naval Biography by John MarshallRNB1823

PETER RIBOULEAU, Esq
[Post-Captain of 1802.]

This officer commanded the Astrea troop-ship, and greatly distinguished himself during the Egyptian campaign in 1801. His post commission bears date April 29, 1802; and we subsequently find him holding a command in the Sea Fencibles. He is at present serving as Flag-Captain to Lord Colville on the Irish station.

Agent.– Thomas Stilwell, Esq.



Previous comments on this page

Posted by Ann on Tuesday 18th of November 2025 00:47

Wendy James, if you see this, I have researched Peter Ribouleau family & the houde he had built in Ryde IOW, I would be pleased to hear from you,
Ann in UK


Posted by Robert Kerr Mitchell on Sunday 23rd of March 2025 12:11

After his bravery in conveying messages to Lieutenant Edward Cooke who was negotiating with the French Committee-General for the surrender of Toulon on behalf of Lord Hood, Peter Ribouleau was promoted Lieutenant and appointed as Aide-de-Camp to Captain George Keith Elphinstone (later Lord Keith).

He subsequently continued serving under the influence of Lord Keith and accompanied him to the Cape of Good Hope during the First British Occupation in 1795.

What is not commonly recorded is the significant role he played at the Cape at that time, taking part in the Battle of Muizenberg in August of that year and in conveying messages to the Governor prior to Dutch surrender in November.

Research to expand his story is continuing and it would be wonderful to be able to obtain a copy of the painting of the old Admiral as mentioned by Wendy James in January 2018.


Posted by Sandra on Monday 4th of October 2021 14:42

Peter Ribouleau had the one daughter, Fanny Creed Ribouleau, who tragically died in 1845 at their home in Hanover Sq, London, the day before his wife. How wonderful to have his portrait! He came from a line of Huguenots who had settled in England, probably by 1700, and who for some years had commercial and family links with the Courtauld family


Posted by Wendy James on Thursday 25th of January 2018 01:53

My husband was related to Admiral Ribouleaux, we have a miniature water-colour painting of him in a bronze frame with red plaited hair on the back, which may have been his or his wifes hair.For my childrens sake I would like to find out more about him thankyou. Wendy James--Adelaide/Australia


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