Counter-Admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée (19 December 1761 – 18 February 1800) was a French Navy officer who served in the French Revolutionary Wars.
Career
Born to a family of sailors in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Perrée started sailing in 1773 at the age of twelve as a boy on the merchantman Glorieuse, under his father.
Commerce raiding on Proserpine
thumb|The [[action of 22 October 1793, where Perrée first fought against Nelson]]
In 1793, when France declared war on Britain during the War of the First Coalition, Perrée enlisted in the Navy as an acting Ensign. In September 1793, he was reported to be commanding a frigate squadron in the Western Mediterranean, fighting the inconclusive action of 22 October 1793 against Captain Horatio Nelson.
Promoted to acting Lieutenant in May 1794, and took command of the frigate Proserpine in April 1794 to conduct commerce raiding operations; in his eight-month campaign, he captured over 63 British merchantmen and a 32-gun Dutch States Navy frigate
On 13 September 1794, Perrée was ship-of-the-line captain, and was appointed to command a squadron in the Mediterranean, comprising the frigate Alceste, under Lieutenant Louis-Jean-Nicolas Lejoille, and the 18-gun brig Hazard, under Lieutenant Amand Leduc.
In September 1795, was given command of a four-frigate and two-corvette squadron to prey on British shipping off the West African coast and raid their trading posts; during the campaign, he captured 54 merchantmen.
In early 1797, Perrée took command of a squadron in the Adriatic Sea. The squadron comprised the frigate Diane, under Lieutenant Hubert; the corvette Brune, still under Deniéport, who was promoted to Commander; the gunboat Frimaire, under Ensign Suply; and the brig Jason, under Lieutenant Sénéquier.
In early 1799, Perrée commanded the naval station of the Syrian coasts, part of the Mediterranean squadron, with his flag on the frigate Junon.
Campaign in Egypt and the action of 18 June 1799
In the Mediterranean squadron, Perrée took command of the 74-gun Mercure, but was replaced by Lieutenant Cambon after the landing of the troops.
With the rank of captain, Perrée acted as a chief of division during the French invasion of Egypt: General Bonaparte appointed him to the Nile flotilla, where he commanded a squadron of shebeks and other light craft. Wounded during the prelude of the Battle of Shubra Khit, Perrée was promoted to counter admiral on the insistence of Bonaparte,), Courageuse (Captain Trullet) and Alceste (Captain Barré), and the brigs Salamine (Lieutenant Landry) and Alerte (Demay). Arrived at Jaffa, the frigates unloaded their cargo, and furthermore shared their own ammunition, leaving the frigates with only 15 shots per gun; Junon also landed four of her 18-pounder long guns. which it quickly eluded. In spite of specific orders to land in Europe only if he could not possibly do otherwise,
At 60 miles from Toulon, on 18 June 1799, Perrée's division met a 30-ship fleet under Lord Keith; a 28-hour chase started and in the ensuing action of 18 June 1799, all of Perrée's ships were captured.
Perrée was taken prisoner and exchanged almost immediately. the court found that the superior Ottoman and British forces off Syria, the partial disarmament of the frigates and their low food and water supplies had been legitimate reasons for Perrée to return to Toulon.
Perrée's division departed on 26 January 1800, but soon after, Généreux broke her mizzen tops and her main topgallant off Hyères, and had to double back for repairs. Généreux continued to resist until 5:30, when, overpowered, she struck her colours.
Perrée died of his wounds in the evening. in the Dominican convent of Syracuse.