Le Saint Geran was commissioned by
the French Company of the Indies. It was launched at the
Orient on the 11th July 1736 and in the month of
February of the year 1737, it sailed on its maiden
voyage under the command of the Captain Laurent Audin
Duplessis. It was destined for the East Indies, carrying
cargo of textiles and metal ware to be bartered for
spices. As was the case for all merchant vessels sailing
down the coast of Africa and around the Cape of Good
Hope into the Indian Ocean, it was heavily armed with a
battery of 18 cannons as well as a company of soldiers
to fight off pirate attacks. Although fast and easy to
operate, it was no match for the numerous pirate ships
that preyed on maritime commerce during this period.All
went well, until the 17th August it was overtaken
by a strong storm and wrecked off the North Coast of
Mauritius Island, known at that time as Isle de France.
Of its total complement of 149 officers and men, only
nine were rescued by the heroic action of the islanders.
The story of its disastrous end and the heroism of the
rescuers formed the theme of an epic novel, Paul and
Virginie, published twenty four years later by Bernandin
de Saint-Pierre, the writer. Some pieces of the wreck
over the years were collected and can be found at the
naval museum of Mahebourg in South of Mauritius Island.
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