Jean-Paul de Saumeur (off Marseille, 1598 — Toulon, 20 December 1667), often called Chevalier Paul was a French admiral who served in several Mediterranean campaigns. Saumeur began sailing at the age of twelve in the navy of the Order of Malta. He distinguished himself in a naval engagement by defeating two Turkish galleys, replacing his captain after he was killed. Saumeur kept the command of the ship and in another fight he defeated five Ottoman ship, sinking two of them and capturing a third. He was knighted in 1637.