Jacob Chappuzeau () was a naval officer in the Russian Fleet, where he was one of three captains decorated for their part in the
Battle of Ösel Island. He rose to be commander of the Russian naval base at
Reval
Tallinn is the capital and most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and administratively lies in the Harju ''maakond'' (co ...
(now
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...
).
He was a grandson of the author and playwright
Samuel Chappuzeau, but his birth year is not known, though it was probably between 1687 and 1689. Nothing is known of his early life, but it is most likely that he was born in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
where his father
Laurent Chappuzeau lived from 1684 to 1689. Laurent was married (twice) at
St James Duke's Place during this period.
We first hear of Jacob in Russian documents from 1716 which state that he was transferred from the British Navy to the Russian Fleet, at
George I of Great Britain
George I (George Louis; ; 28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 1 August 1714 and ruler of the Electorate of Hanover within the Holy Roman Empire from 23 January 1698 until his death in 1727. ...
's request, as Captain 3rd Class.
It is not clear whether he was regarded as French (like his father) or English. He is referred to as both in different documents.
On the Tsar's birthday in 1719, he and two other captains captured three Swedish vessels in what was the Russian fleet's first successful battle. For this, he was awarded a gold medal by the Tsar, and promoted to Captain, 2nd class.
Jacob married a noblewoman,
Anne Kellermann, in
St Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
, and had 10 children. That he was held in high regard is proven by the fact that the godfather of one of his daughters was Count
Fyodor Apraksin
Count Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin (also ''Apraxin''; ; , Moscow) was one of the first Russian admirals, governed Estonia and Karelia from 1712 to 1723, was made general admiral (1708), presided over the Russian Admiralty from 1717 to 1728''GR ...
, Admiral and member of the Russian Supreme Privy Council.
[A scan of the birth registration is available and will be added a.s.a.p]
His eldest son,
Alexander Chappuzeau
Alexander Chappuzeau () was a naval officer in the Russian Fleet.List of former and present Staff-Officers and Cadets of Land Gentry Cadet Corps, Nikolay Zhiglaev, St. Petersburg 1766, page 127 (in Russian) He was the eldest son of Jacob Chappuzea ...
(1720–1755), was aide de camp to Count
Jean Armand de L'Estocq, who was involved in 1741 in putting
Elisabeth of Russia
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Empress Elisabeth (disambiguation), lists various empresses named ''Elisabeth'' or ''Elizabeth''
* Princess Elizabeth (d ...
on the throne.
Jacob died in Reval in 1734.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chappuzeau, Jacob
1734 deaths