Charles Henri Hector, comte d'Estaing, moved from army service into naval command during France's eighteenth-century imperial wars. In the Seven Years' War he served in India, was captured by the British, and later led operations against British establishments in the Indian Ocean. His promotion in the navy brought resentment from some professional naval officers because his experience had begun on land. He also served in colonial administration in the Caribbean.

After France entered the American War of Independence in 1778, d'Estaing commanded the first major French fleet sent to support the Americans. His arrival opened possibilities for operations against British naval and coastal positions, but cooperation proved difficult. An attempt to work with American forces against Newport, Rhode Island, was disrupted by a storm and damage to the French fleet. His withdrawal to Boston for repairs angered American commanders and exposed the challenges of coordinating allied armies and fleets.

In the Caribbean in 1779, his forces captured Grenada and fought Admiral John Byron's fleet. He then sailed to Georgia to cooperate with Benjamin Lincoln's army in an effort to recover Savannah. After a siege, the allies attacked the British defenses on October 9. The assault failed with severe losses; d'Estaing was wounded while taking part on land. Troops from Saint-Domingue, including free men of color, formed part of the French expedition. The defeat left Savannah under British control and damaged confidence in his leadership.

D'Estaing returned to France, where he continued to hold senior rank, although he did not deliver the decisive allied success later achieved at Yorktown by other commanders. His career combined courage and substantial resources with repeated failures of timing and cooperation. During the French Revolution his connections with the monarchy made him vulnerable despite his acceptance of some reforms. He was tried and guillotined in 1794 during the Terror.