Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville was a French military officer and explorer. A contemporary of the British explorer James Cook, he served in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. In 1766, Bougainville received from Louis XV permission to circumnavigate the globe. He would become the 14th navigator, and the first Frenchman, to sail around the world. After several years of absence, Bougainville again accepted a naval command. In 1777, he was captain of the 74-gun Bien-Aime. He took part in the War of American Independence, playing a crucial part in the French victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake. At the Battle of the Saintes, Bougainville commanded the 80-gun Auguste. He managed to rally eight ships of his own division, and bringing them safely into Saint Eustace after the defeat of Comte de Grasse. He was promoted to chef d'escadre. When he re-entered the French Army, he was commissioned as Maréchal de camp. After Peace of Paris in 1783, Bougainville returned to Paris. He obtained the place of associate of the Académie de Marine. He proposed a voyage of discovery to the North Pole, but did not gain the support of the French government. In 1787, he became a member of the French Academy of Sciences. He obtained the rank of vice-admiral in 1791.