Mithon de Genouilly was born in
Saint-Domingue, in the family of the Intendant of Toulon. He joined the Navy as a
Garde-Marine on 14 December 1743. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 May 1756. He was promoted to Captain on 18 February 1772. Genouilly captained the 60-gun
Saint Michel at the
Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778. In 1779, Mithon de Genouilly commanded the 70-gun
Dauphin Royal, part of a division under
De Grasse sent to reinforce the French squadron off America under
Estaing. In 1782, he commanded the 74-gun
Magnifique, before transferring to
Couronne. On
Couronne, he took part in the
Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782. He was promoted to
Chef d'Escadre on 20 August 1784. ==References==