Théobald-René, Comte de Kergariou-Locmaria[Note 1] (17 September 1739[1] – 16 July 1795[2]) was a French Navy officer and Royalist émigré.

[5] Promoted to Captain on 13 March 1779,[4] Kergariou-Locmaria received command of the frigate Junon, on which he captured the British corvette HMS Rover,[1] on 13 September of that year.

In the ensuing exchange of fire, Kergariou-Locmaria was severely wounded, but his first officer, Morel d'Escures, took command and managed to dismast Magicienne.

[4] Four days later, a gale entirely dismasted Sibylle; Kergariou-Locmaria was forced to have twelve guns thrown overboard to keep his ship afloat.

In distress, Sibylle was spotted by the British corvette, HMS Hussar, under Thomas McNamara Russell, yielding the action of 22 January 1783.

[4][8] Hussar fired a single broadside that struck Sibylle under the floating line, inundated her poweder reserves and caused leaks so severe that her pumps could not compensate.

[8] In the automatic court-martial for the loss of his ship, the allegations were brought to the attention of the court; Kergariou-Locmaria was honourably discharged of all accusations of wrongdoing.

[3] At the end of the American War of Independence, he totalled nine campaigns in America, three journeys in the Indian Ocean, had fought in three battles and had been severely wounded.

Geoffroy d'Antrechaux later reported that Kergariou thus addressed his troops: You have no need for someone to give you an example on how to die; but, as your elder, I request the honour to go to be the first to walk to execution.