18th C Indian Ocean Voyages

Manuel Joseph embarks on the Duc d’Aquitaine

Sometime between January and May 1757, an individual named Manuel Joseph volunteered to join the crew of the Duc d'Aquitaine in Lisbon. It is not certain that this was the same Manuel Joseph that we have followed thus far. It is possible, however, because our Manuel Joseph was a Portuguese sailor on French ships. We know he ended up at A Coruña by October 1756. It is entirely possible that he made his way 600km down the coast to Lisbon (back to his home country) by January, and joined on the Duc d'Aquitaine while he was there.

Although Portugal was allied with Great Britain in the Seven Years War, Manuel Joseph seems to have thrown his lot in with the French, serving on board a French vessel. The ship left Lisbon on 11 May 1757 and a few weeks later it engaged in a battle with a British fleet. It was taken by the Aigle and Medway on 30 May 1757.

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