Karl Heinrich von Nassau-Siegen (French: Charles-Henri-Othon de Nassau-Siegen; 5 January 1743 – 10 April 1808), was a French-born fortune-seeker and adventurer active in Spain, Poland and the Russian Empire. A controversial figure, he was best known as Catherine II's least successful[1] naval commander.
Charles Henry, in Catherine II's own words, "had everywhere the reputation of a crazy fellow". He sailed around the world with Bougainville, "fought tigers bare-handed" in Central Africa and reportedly seduced the Queen of Tahiti. His tiger hunt is the subject of a vast canvas by Francesco Casanova.
- ^ Morison, Samuel Eliot (1959). John Paul Jones - A Sailor's Biography. Atlantic Monthly Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-1568524658. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
Nassau-Siegen failed in everything he undertook.