French frigate Méduse runs aground off Senegal; the raft scandal

Background. Following the Bourbon Restoration, the Méduse was armed en flûte to ferry French officials to Saint-Louis, Senegal, to re-establish colonial occupation. The convoy departed Rochefort in June 1816 under Captain Hugues Duroy de Chaumareys. The ship carried the appointed governor, Colonel Julien-Désiré Schmaltz, and other passengers. The incident occurred during a period of political instability, making the disaster a significant embarrassment for the recently restored monarchy.

Grounding. On 2 July 1816, the Méduse was more than 160 kilometers off course when it ran into shallow water near the Banc d'Arguin. Neither the captain nor the navigator noticed dangerous signs, such as the mud bottom becoming visible. The ship ran aground, leading to the construction of a hurriedly built raft for the passengers, while the captain and high-ranking officials took the lifeboats.

Aftermath. At least 150 people were set adrift on the raft on 5 July 1816. Over thirteen days, survivors endured starvation, dehydration, and practiced cannibalism. All but fifteen died before the raft was rescued by the Argus on 17 July 1816. The incident became a huge public embarrassment for the French monarchy, leading to a court-martial for the captain in 1817.

Scandal. The disaster caused a scandal in the French government. The incident was leaked to the anti-Bourbon newspaper Journal des débats and published in September 1816. Survivors Savigny and Corréard wrote a widely read book about the incident. The event was immortalized by Théodore Géricault's painting, which became a notable artwork of French Romanticism.