Philippe d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon

Vice Admiral Philippe d'Auvergne, Royal Navy, fellow of the Royal Society, was buried in the churchyard of St Margaret's Westminster on 22nd September 1816 but he has no marker or memorial.

He was born in St Helier on the island of Jersey and baptised in 1754. His parents were Charles, army officer, and his first wife Elizabeth (Le Geyt). He had several half brothers including Corbet who died in 1825 in Paris. While serving in the Royal Navy he sailed on an Arctic expedition and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill during the American War of Independence. He was acquitted at a court martial for the loss of his ship off the coast. While serving in another ship he was captured by the French and imprisoned in Brittany where he met Charles d'Auvergne, duke of Bouillon. On his release he sailed to an island off the coast of Brazil and was again acquitted for the loss of a ship. He also went to India. While convalescing in France the Duke of Bouillon adopted him as his son.

During the Napoleonic wars he was commodore for the defence of the Channel Islands. He served as a spymaster for the British on the coasts of France. By 1803 he had taken the title of Duke of Bouillon. In 1810 he was promoted a Vice Admiral. He wrote a book about sea compasses. He had at least three illegitimate children - son Philippe died while in the Royal Navy, Mary married Sir (later Admiral) Henry Prescott and Anne married Admiral John Aplin. He died in debt in Parliament Street at Holmes Hotel on 18th September.

Further reading:

The tragedy of Philippe D'Auvergne by G.R. Balleine, 1973

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography