François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse

François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, Marquis de Grasse-Tilly (1722–1788), was a French naval commander and admiral whose single most famous naval victory changed the course of modern history. Entering naval service as a Knight of Malta before joining the French Royal Navy, De Grasse possessed extensive combat experience in European and Caribbean waters.

In August 1781, responding to urgent appeals from Washington and Rochambeau, De Grasse made the daring strategic decision to sail his entire fleet of 28 ships of the line and 3,000 soldiers north from the West Indies, leaving French colonies undefended. On September 5, 1781, at the Battle of the Chesapeake (Battle of the Virginia Capes), De Grasse engaged British Admiral Thomas Graves, outmaneuvering and battering the Royal Navy until they withdrew to New York. By securing total naval control of Chesapeake Bay, De Grasse denied Cornwallis all possibility of evacuation or resupply, ensuring American victory at Yorktown.