Final answer:
Option (C), Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse, whom George Washington met in Yorktown, sailed for the French fleet and was instrumental in the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Washington met Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse in Yorktown. Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse sailed for the C) French fleet.
In the historical context of the American Revolutionary War, Admiral de Grasse played a pivotal role by leading the French naval forces into Chesapeake Bay, effectively blockading the York River. This strategic move prevented British forces under Lord Cornwallis from taking a seaward escape route, culminating in the decisive Battle of Yorktown.
The surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, largely influenced by the French naval blockade, led to the end of the war and the signing of the Treaty of Paris two years later, which officially recognized the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain.