Abraham Duquesne, a French naval officer, born in Dieppe in 1610, died Feb. 2,1688. He was educated in his native town, early entered the naval service, and gained distinction in several encounters with the Spaniards, especially in 1637 off the isles of Lerins, in 1641 off Tarragona, and in 1643 off Cape de Gatte. Hostilities being suspended, he entered the Swedish service in the latter year as vice admiral, and in 1644 completely defeated the Danish fleet commanded by King Christian IV. in person. He soon afterward returned to France, and in 1650 fitted out a squadron at his own expense, with which he prevented the Spaniards from entering Bordeaux, then the stronghold of the rebellious princes. After the peace of 1659 he served against the pirates on the coast of Africa. He was made naval lieutenant general in 1667, and in the war with Holland was twice engaged against De Ruyter in 1676, in the Mediterranean. In both engagements the Dutch were defeated, and in the latter they lost their commander. A few weeks later Duquesne destroyed the remains of their fleet, and secured the naval supremacy of France.

Louis XIV. bestowed upon him the estate of Du Bouchet with the title of marquis. He was ordered to clear the Mediterranean of the Barbary pirates; defeated the Tripolitans off the island of Scio in 1681; attempted in 1682 the bombardment of Algiers, which stormy weather obliged him to abandon; resumed it the next year, and forced the dey to sue for peace. The first condition imposed by Du-quesne was the liberation of a considerable number of Christian slaves. In 1684 he led a successful expedition against Genoa, and soon after retired to his native city. Duquesne was a firm Protestant, and after the revocation of the edict of Nantes he alone of all the French Protestants was permitted to remain in France and retain his rank and honors. His four sons, two of whom, Henri and Abraham, had served under him with great distinction, were compelled to leave their country; but their father obtained from them a promise, which they rigidly kept, never to serve against France. - See Duquesne et la marine de son temps, by Henri Plon (Paris, 1872).