26. Comte de Grasse fought the most decisive battle of the American Revolution
When the French fleet was promised to appear in North American waters in the summer of 1781 it was under the command of Francois Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse. It was this fleet which engaged the British fleet under Admiral Thomas Graves at the Battle of the Virginia Capes, which resulted in the British withdrawing, leaving the French in control of Chesapeake Bay. British General Cornwallis and his army were left to their fate, unable to escape. Had de Grasse lost the battle for control of the bay, Washington and his French allies would likely not have been able to effect the surrender which marked the last major battle of the American Revolution.