René-Marie Madec

René-Marie Madec (February 7, 1736 – 1784), called Medoc in Anglo-Indian writings, was a French adventurer in India.

Aged twelve, he embarked as ship's boy on a boat from Lorient heading for the island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic).

Deserting with some of his companions shortly before the Battle of Buxar (1764), he became military instructor to various native princes, organizing successively the forces of Shuja-ud-Dowlah the Nawab of Oudh, and of the Jats and Rohillas.

In 1772 he took service under the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, who gave him the title of Nawab, reserved to the highest dignitaries of the Sultan's court.

When that prince was defeated at Delhi by the Marathas, Madec rejoined his own countrymen in Puducherry, where he took an active part in the defence of the town (1778).