Many anecdotes tell of the courage and bluntness of the 2.04 m tall, uncultivated sailor, who became a popular hero of the French Navy.
He captured a total of 386 ships and also sank or burned a great number more.
The town of Dunkirk has honoured his memory by erecting a statue and by naming a public square after him.
During the carnival of Dunkirk, held every year the Sunday before Holy Tuesday, local people knee all together in front of his statue and sing the Cantate à Jean Bart.
Jean Bart is viewed by the inhabitants of Dunkirk as a local hero.

In World War II, 70% of Dunkirk was destroyed, but the statue survived.
Many anecdotes tell of the courage and bluntness of the 2.04 m tall, uncultivated sailor, who became a popular hero of the French Navy. He captured a total of 386 ships and also sank or burned a great number more. The town of Dunkirk has honoured his memory by erecting a statue and by naming a public square after him. During the carnival of Dunkirk, held every year the Sunday before Holy Tuesday, local people knee all together in front of his statue and sing the Cantate à Jean Bart. Jean Bart is viewed by the inhabitants of Dunkirk as a local hero.
In World War II, 70% of Dunkirk was destroyed, but the statue survived.
Jean Bart