title: Henri-Louis de Boulainvilliers de Croy
text: # Henri-Louis de Boulainvilliers de Croy
  
  Henri-Louis de Boulainvilliers de Croy was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
  
  ## Biography
  
  Boulainvilliers was born to a noble family from Brest. His father was a Navy captain. His son, Joseph de Boulainvilliers de Croy, was also a Navy officer and later a Chouan insurgent.
  
  Boulainvilliers joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in 1735. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1751, and to Captain in 1757.
  
  He commanded the 80-gun Languedoc as flag captain to Estaing. He took part in the Battle of Rhode Island, the Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779, and in the Siege of Savannah.
  
  Boulainvilliers' superiors saw him as having reach the limits of his abilities, and advised against his promotion to a general officer position. Boulainvilliers was promoted to Chef d'escadre on 5 May 1780, and was retired from the Navy on 13, a week later.
  
  ## Sources and references
  
  Notes
  
  * ↑ Also written "Croÿ".
  * ↑ On in 1776 list of captains, Boulainvilliers is noted as "merely a good subordinate. Has long and well served as such, but would not be fit to command a squadron". Estaing noted "If he did little, because he would not be able of more, he behaved as a good man and did his best".
  
  References
  
  * 1 2 3 Gélis (2010), p. 153.
  * 1 2 3 4 Contenson (1934), p. 145.
  * ↑ Archives nationales (2011), p. 267.
  * ↑ Archives nationales (2011), p. 230.
  * ↑ Troude (1867), p. 12.
  * ↑ Troude (1867), p. 39.
  * 1 2 Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 631.
  
  Bibliography
  
  * Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
  * Gélis, Matthieu (2010). "Joseph de Boulainvilliers, premier général des chouans du Morbihan" (PDF). Mémoires de la société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Bretagne. Rennes: Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Bretagne (LXXXVIII): 153–170. OCLC 869411366.
  * Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1905). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion. OCLC 763372623.
  * Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé. OCLC 836362484.
  
  External links
  
  * Archives nationales (2011). "Fonds Marine, sous-série B/4: Campagnes, 1571-1785" (PDF). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  