Hervé de Portzmoguer

Hervé de Portzmoguer (c. 1470 – 1512), known as "Primauguet", was a Breton naval commander, renowned for his raids on the English and his death in the Battle of St. Mathieu.

Portzmoguer participated in armed convoys, protecting merchant ships from pirates and enemy warships at a time when France was often in conflict with England.

From Morlaix he harassed English ships, which earned complaints from the ambassador of England who wrote to the King of France that "more than thirty vessels" had been captured and looted by Portzmoguer.

[1] On 10 August 1512 he went down with his ship Marie de la Cordelière in the Battle of Saint-Mathieu, when it blew up in a struggle with the English warship Regent.

He is supposed to have said "Nous allons fêter saint Laurent qui périt par le feu!"