List of Naval Ministers of France
Encyclopedia
One of France
's Secretaries of State under the ancien régime was entrusted with control of the French Navy
(Secretary of State of the Navy (France)
. In 1791, this title was changed to Minister of the Navy. Before the 1890s, this position also usually had responsibility for France's colonies
, and was usually known as Minister of the Navy and Colonies. In 1947 the naval ministry was absorbed into the Ministry of Defence
.
and Levant fleet) were put under the control of Colbert
from 1662, whilst he was "intendant des finances
" and "minister of state" -- but not "secretary of state" : he only became secretary of state in 1669 after having bought his way into the post. From then on, right up to the French Revolution
, a secretary of state had responsibility for the fleet.
The secretary of state was responsible for the administration of both the navy (the "marine royale") and civilian (merchant marine) fleets, and for all France's ports, arsenals, consulates, and colonies, as well as the guardianship for all her commercial companies.
To his two original offices (the bureau du Ponant and bureau du Levant) other services were added over time:
These different offices and departments were regrouped into four super-departments by marshal
de Castries in 1786.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Secretaries of State under the ancien régime was entrusted with control of the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
(Secretary of State of the Navy (France)
Secretary of State of the Navy (France)
The Secretary of State of the Navy was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. This Secretary of State was responsible for the French navy and for French colonies...
. In 1791, this title was changed to Minister of the Navy. Before the 1890s, this position also usually had responsibility for France's colonies
French colonial empire
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
, and was usually known as Minister of the Navy and Colonies. In 1947 the naval ministry was absorbed into the Ministry of Defence
Minister of Defence (France)
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
.
History
The two French royal fleets (the Ponant fleetPonant fleet
The Ponant fleet was the overall term for the naval forces of the royal French navy under the Ancien Régime designated to communicating with the New World in general and protecting the maritime routes between there and France...
and Levant fleet) were put under the control of Colbert
Colbert
Colbert is a common surname and rare given name of Old French and Old German origins; it was introduced to Britain by the Normans.Colbert most commonly refers to:*Stephen Colbert , American comedian and television show host...
from 1662, whilst he was "intendant des finances
Intendant des finances
The Intendants des finances were intendants or agents of France's financial administration under the Ancien Régime.-History:The role of intendant des finances was created in 1552 as a 'commission' or committee, to manage the subsidies raised for the 'trip to Germany', though these commissaires were...
" and "minister of state" -- but not "secretary of state" : he only became secretary of state in 1669 after having bought his way into the post. From then on, right up to the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, a secretary of state had responsibility for the fleet.
The secretary of state was responsible for the administration of both the navy (the "marine royale") and civilian (merchant marine) fleets, and for all France's ports, arsenals, consulates, and colonies, as well as the guardianship for all her commercial companies.
To his two original offices (the bureau du Ponant and bureau du Levant) other services were added over time:
- archives department, 1669 ;
- office of the PonantPonant fleetThe Ponant fleet was the overall term for the naval forces of the royal French navy under the Ancien Régime designated to communicating with the New World in general and protecting the maritime routes between there and France...
consulates, 1709 ; - office of the colonies, 1710 ;
- bureau des classes, 1711 ;
- department of maps and plans, 1720 ;
- Office of the Levant Consulates, 1738, which was in 1743 merged with the Office of the Ponant Consulates under the name of Office of Commerce and Consulates
These different offices and departments were regrouped into four super-departments by marshal
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
de Castries in 1786.
Secretaries of State for the Navy, 1547-1790
| Secretary | Began | Ended |
| Cosme Clausse, seigneur de Marchaumont | 14 September 1547 | 1558 |
| Florimond II Robertet de Fresne | 1558 | October 1567 |
| Claude de l’Aubespine, seigneur d’Hauterive | 1 April 1547 | 1567 |
| Jacques Bourdin Jacques Bourdin Jacques Bourdin, seigneur de Villeines was a French Minister of Finances, 14 June 1549.He married Catherine Brianson . -References:... , seigneur de Villeines |
1558 | 1567 |
| Martin Ruze, seigneur de Beaulieu | 15 September 1588 | 6 November 1613 |
| Antoine de Loménie Antoine de Loménie Antoine de Lomenie, lord of La Ville-aux-Clerics was a Secretary of the Navy under Louis XIII of 7 November 1613 to 10 August 1615, and Ambassador Extraordinary of France to England.... , seigneur de la Ville aux Clercs |
7 November 1613 | 10 August 1615 (he left the post on this date, but retained the precedence and the functions) |
| Henri Auguste de Loménie, seigneur de la Ville aux Clercs | 13 July 1615 | February 1643 |
| Henry de Guénegaud Henry de Guénegaud Henri du Plessis-Guénégaud, Lord of the Plessis-Belleville, Marquis de La Garnache was a French scholar who was Secretary of State of the royal household, and Naval Minister.-Family:... , marquis de Plancy |
23 March 1643 | 1662 |
| Hugues de Lionne Hugues de Lionne Hugues de Lionne was a French statesman.He was born in Grenoble, of an old family of Dauphiné. Early trained for diplomacy, he fell into disgrace under Cardinal Richelieu, but his remarkable abilities attracted the notice of Cardinal Mazarin, who sent him as secretary of the French embassy to the... , marquis de Fresne |
4 February 1662 | 1669 |
| Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay Jean-Baptiste Antoine Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay was a French politician. He was the eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, nephew of Charles Colbert de Croissy and cousin of Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy.... |
September 1683 | 3 November 1690 |
| Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain Louis Phélypeaux (1643-1727) Louis Phélypeaux , marquis de Phélypeaux , comte de Maurepas , comte de Pontchartrain , known as the chancellor de Pontchartrain, was a French politician.... |
7 November 1683 | 6 September 1699 |
| Jérôme Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain Jérôme Phélypeaux Jérôme Phélypeaux , comte de Pontchartrain, was a French politician, son of Louis Phélypeaux.He served as a councillor to the parlement of Paris from 1692, and served with his father as Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi and Navy Minster from 1699 onwards... |
6 September 1699 | 1 October 1715 |
| Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse and Victor Marie d'Estrées (Presidents of the Council of Marine) | 1 October 1715 | 24 September 1718 |
| Joseph Jean Baptiste Fleuriau d'Armenonville | 24 September 1718 | 28 February 1722 |
| Charles Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, comte de Morville Charles Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, comte de Morville Charles Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, comte de Morville was a French statesman.Son of Joseph Fleuriau d'Armenonville, he was ambassador to Holland, then Secretary of State for the Navy from 28 February 1722 to 16 August 1723.When cardinal Dubois entered his death throes, the duke of Orléans sent... |
28 February 1722 | 16 August 1723 |
| Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas was a French statesman.He was born at Versailles, the son of Jérôme Phélypeaux, secretary of state for the marine and the royal household... |
16 August 1723 | 23 April 1749 |
| Antoine Louis Rouillé Antoine Louis Rouillé Antoine-Louis Rouillé, comte de Jouy was a French statesman and comte of Jouy-en-Josas.Born in Paris, the son of the diplomat Pierre Rouillé, he was in succession conseiller to the parlement de Paris , maître des requêtes , intendant of commerce , conseiller d'État and finally commissaire to the... |
30 April 1749 | 24 July 1754 |
| Jean Baptiste de Machault D'Arnouville Jean Baptiste de Machault D'Arnouville Jean-Baptiste de Machault d'Arnouville, comte d'Arnouville, seigneur de Garge et de Gonesse, was born in Paris on December 13, 1701, and died on July 12, 1794 in a French Revolutionary prison... |
24 July 1754 | 1 February 1757 |
| François Marie Peyrenc de Moras François Marie Peyrenc de Moras François Marie Peyrenc de Moras was a senior French politician.In a family from the Cévennes, he was the son of Abraham Peyrenc de Moras , son of barber enriched in the system of Law, who built the Hotel Biron rue de Varenne in Paris and his wife, Anne-Marie-Josephe de Farges . He married... |
1 February 1757 | 31 May 1758 |
| Claude Louis d'Espinchal, marquis de Massiac Claude Louis d'Espinchal, marquis de Massiac Claude Louis d'Espinchal, marquis de Massiac was a French Admiral and Minister.He was son of Barthélémy d'Espinchal de Massiac, 1626–1700, lawyer.... |
31 May 1758 | 31 October 1758 |
| Nicolas René Berryer Nicolas René Berryer Nicolas René Berryer, comte de La Ferrière Nicolas René Berryer, comte de La Ferrière Nicolas René Berryer, comte de La Ferrière (4 March 1703, Paris - 15 August 1762, Versailles was a French magistrate and politician. He is best known for his service as Minister of Marine during the Seven Years... |
31 October 1758 | 13 October 1761 |
| Étienne François, duc de Choiseul Étienne François, duc de Choiseul Étienne-François, comte de Stainville, duc de Choiseul was a French military officer, diplomat and statesman. Between 1758 and 1761, and 1766 and 1770, he was Foreign Minister of France and had a strong influence on France's global strategy throughout the period... |
13 October 1761 | 10 April 1766 |
| César Gabriel de Choiseul-Chevigny, duc de Praslin César Gabriel de Choiseul César Gabriel de Choiseul, duc de Praslin was a French officer, diplomat and statesman.On 30 April 1732, he was married with Anne Marie de Champagne de Villaines de la Suze.... |
10 April 1766 | 24 December 1770 |
| Joseph Marie Terray Joseph Marie Terray Joseph Marie Terray was a Controller-General of Finances during the reign of Louis XV of France, an agent of fiscal reform, cut short by his death.... |
24 December 1770 | 9 April 1771 |
| Pierre Étienne Bourgeois de Boynes Pierre Étienne Bourgeois de Boynes Pierre Étienne Bourgeois de Boynes, Marquis de Boynes, Count Gueudreville, Marquis de Sains, Baron Laas was a French magistrate, statesman, and Secretary of the Navy of Louis XV.-Biography :... |
9 April 1771 | 20 July 1774 |
| Anne Robert Jacques Turgot | 20 July 1774 | 24 August 1774 |
| Antoine de Sartine Antoine de Sartine Antoine Raymond Jean Gualbert Gabriel de Sartine, comte d'Alby was a French statesman who served as Lieutenant General of Police of Paris during the reign of Louis XV and as Secretary of State for the Navy under King Louis XVI.-Origins:Antoine de Sartine was born in Barcelona in 1729, the son of... |
24 August 1774 | 13 October 1780 |
| Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix de Castries, marquis de Castries, baron des États de Languedoc, comte de Charlus, baron de Castelnau et de Montjouvent, seigneur de Puylaurens et de Lézignan was a French marshal... |
13 October 1780 | 24 August 1787 |
| Armand Marc, comte de Montmorin Saint-Hérem | 25 August 1787 | 24 December 1787 |
| César Henri, comte de La Luzerne César Henri, comte de La Luzerne César Henri Guillaume de La Luzerne , seigneur de Beuzeville et de Rilly, baron de Chambon, was a French politician and soldier, rising to Lieutenant général des armées and naval minister... |
24 December 1787 | 13 July 1789 |
| Arnaud de Laporte | 13 July 1789 | 16 July 1789 |
| César Henri, comte de La Luzerne César Henri, comte de La Luzerne César Henri Guillaume de La Luzerne , seigneur de Beuzeville et de Rilly, baron de Chambon, was a French politician and soldier, rising to Lieutenant général des armées and naval minister... |
16 July 1789 | 26 October 1790 |
Ministers of the Navy and the Colonies, 1790-1893
| Minister | Began | Ended |
| Charles Pierre Claret de Fleuriau | 26 October 1790 | 17 May 1791 |
| Antoine Jean Marie Thévenard | 17 May 1791 | 18 September 1791 |
| Claude Antoine Valdec de Lessart | 18 September 1791 | 7 October 1791 |
| Antoine François, comte Bertrand de Molleville | 7 October 1791 | 16 March 1792 |
| Jean de Lacoste Jean de Lacoste Jean de Lacoste was a lawyer in the parliament of Bordeaux who became chief clerk of the Navy, on the eve of the Revolution.He was sent to the Caribbean to retain control for the new colonial regime. He was Minister of the Navy from 15 March 1792 to 10 July 1792. He was indicted by the court's... |
16 March 1792 | 21 July 1792 |
| François Joseph de Gratet, vicomte Dubouchage François Joseph de Gratet, vicomte Dubouchage François Joseph de Gratet, vicomte du Bouchage , was an artillery general, politician, and French Minister of Marine in 1792 and 1815, and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1792.-Biography :... |
21 July 1792 | 10 August 1792 |
| Gaspard Monge Gaspard Monge Gaspard Monge, Comte de Péluse was a French mathematician, revolutionary, and was inventor of descriptive geometry. During the French Revolution, he was involved in the complete reorganization of the educational system, founding the École Polytechnique... |
10 August 1792 | 10 April 1793 |
| Jean Dalbarade (commissioner from 20 April 1794) | 10 April 1793 | 2 July 1795 |
| Jean-Claude Redon de Beaupréau (commissioner) | 2 July 1795 | 4 November 1795 |
| Laurent Jean François Truguet Laurent Jean François Truguet Laurent Truguet was a French admiral.-Youth up to the Revolution:Of arisocratic origins, and the son of a chef d'escadre, Laurent de Truguet entered the... |
4 November 1795 | 15 July 1797 |
| Georges René Le Peley de Pléville Georges René Le Peley de Pléville Georges-René Le Pelley de Pléville was the governor of the port of Marseilles, a French admiral, minister for the navy and the colonies from 15 July 1797 to 27 April 1798, a senator, a knight of the Order of St Louis and the Order of Cincinnatus, and one of the very first Grand officiers of the... |
15 July 1797 | 27 April 1798 |
| Eustache Bruix | 27 April 1798 | 4 March 1799 |
| Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord | 7 March 1799 | 2 July 1799 |
| Marc Antoine Bourdon de Vatry Marc Antoine Bourdon de Vatry Marc-Antoine Bourdon Vatry Marc-Antoine Bourdon Vatry Marc-Antoine Bourdon Vatry (born 24 November 1761 Longny-au-Perche - 22 April 1828 Paris, brother of Louis-François Bourdon, was a French Naval Minister.... |
2 July 1799 | 22 November 1799 |
| Pierre Alexandre Laurent Forfait | 22 November 1799 | 3 October 1801 |
| Denis Decrès Denis Decrès Denis Decrès, , was an officer of the French Navy and count, later duke of the First Empire.-Early career:... |
3 October 1801 | 1 April 1814 |
| Pierre Victor, baron Malouet Pierre Victor, baron Malouet Pierre Victor, baron Malouet , a French publicist and politician, was born at Riom .-Life:... |
3 April 1814 | 7 September 1814 |
| Jacques, comte Beugnot | 7 September 1814 | 20 March 1815 |
| Denis, duc Decrès Denis Decrès Denis Decrès, , was an officer of the French Navy and count, later duke of the First Empire.-Early career:... |
20 March 1815 | 7 July 1815 |
| François Arnail, comte de Jaucourt | 9 July 1815 | 26 September 1815 |
| François Joseph de Gratet, vicomte Dubouchage François Joseph de Gratet, vicomte Dubouchage François Joseph de Gratet, vicomte du Bouchage , was an artillery general, politician, and French Minister of Marine in 1792 and 1815, and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1792.-Biography :... |
26 September 1815 | 23 June 1817 |
| Laurent, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr Laurent, marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, 1st Marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr was a French commander in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars who rose to Marshal of France and Marquis... |
23 June 1817 | 12 September 1817 |
| Mathieu Louis, comte Molé | 12 September 1817 | 29 December 1818 |
| Pierre Barthélemy, baron Portal Pierre Barthélemy, baron Portal Pierre-Barthélémy Portal of Albarèdes, Baron Portal, was a French politician born into a Protestant family of Guienne.-Biography :... |
29 December 1818 | 14 December 1821 |
| Aimé, duc de Clermont-Tonnerre Aimé, duc de Clermont-Tonnerre Aimé-Marie-Gaspard, comte de Clermont-Tonnerre was a French general and statesman.Son of Gaspard-Paulin, vicomte de Clermont-Tonnerre and Anne-Marie-... |
14 December 1821 | 4 August 1824 |
| Christophe, comte de Chabrol de Crouzol | 4 August 1824 | 3 March 1828 |
| Jean-Guillaume, baron Hyde de Neuville Jean-Guillaume, baron Hyde de Neuville Jean-Guillaume, baron Hyde de Neuville was a French aristocrat, diplomat, and politician.-Early years; Royalist agent:... |
3 March 1828 | 8 August 1829 |
| Henri Gauthier, comte de Rigny | 8 August 1829 | 23 August 1829 |
| Charles Lemercier de Longpré, baron d'Haussez Charles Lemercier de Longpré, baron d'Haussez Charles Lemercier de Longpre, baron d'Haussez was a French politician and minister.-Biography :... |
23 August 1829 | 31 July 1830 |
| Henri Gauthier, comte de Rigny | 31 July 1830 | 11 August 1830 |
| Horace François Bastien, baron Sébastiani Horace François Bastien, baron Sébastiani Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta was a French soldier, diplomat, and politician, who served as Naval Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of State under the July Monarchy. Joining the French Revolutionary Army in his youth, he rose in its ranks and became a supporter... |
11 August 1830 | 17 November 1830 |
| Antoine, comte d'Argout | 17 November 1830 | 13 March 1831 |
| Henri Gauthier, comte de Rigny | 13 March 1831 | 4 April 1834 |
| Albin Reine, baron Roussin | 4 April 1834 | 19 May 1834 |
| Louis Léon, comte Jacob | 19 May 1834 | 10 November 1834 |
| Charles, baron Dupin | 10 November 1834 | 18 November 1834 |
| Victor Guy, baron Duperré | 18 November 1834 | 6 September 1836 |
| Claude Charles Marie du Campe de Rosamel Claude Charles Marie du Campe de Rosamel Claude Charles Marie du Campe de Rosamel was a French politician and naval officer.Rosamel was born at the Chateau Rosamel à Frencq on June 24, 1774. He was commander of the Pomane in battle against the British... |
6 September 1836 | 31 March 1839 |
| Jean Marguerite Tupinier | 31 March 1839 | 12 May 1839 |
| Victor Guy, baron Duperré | 12 May 1839 | 1 March 1840 |
| Albin Reine, baron Roussin | 1 March 1840 | 29 October 1840 |
| Victor Guy, baron Duperré | 29 October 1840 | 7 February 1843 |
| Albin Reine, baron Roussin | 7 February 1843 | 24 July 1843 |
| Ange René Armand, baron de Mackau Ange René Armand, baron de Mackau Ange René Armand, Baron de Mackau was a French naval officer and politician.-Early History:Descendant of an ancient family of Ireland who followed King James II to France and grandson of the deputy governess of the sisters of Louis XVI, Ange de Mackau was raised in the same institution as Jérôme... |
24 July 1843 | 9 May 1847 |
| Louis Napoléon Lannes, duc de Montebello | 9 May 1847 | 24 February 1848 |
| François Arago François Arago François Jean Dominique Arago , known simply as François Arago , was a French mathematician, physicist, astronomer and politician.-Early life and work:... |
24 February 1848 | 11 May 1848 |
| Joseph Grégoire Cazy | 11 May 1848 | 28 June 1848 |
| Jules Bastide Jules Bastide Jules Bastide was a French politician.He studied law for a time, and was afterward engaged in business as a timber merchant. In 1821, he became a member of the French la Charbonnerie, modelled on that of the Italian Carbonari, and took a prominent part in the Revolution of 1830... |
28 June 1848 | 17 July 1848 |
| Raymond Verninac de Saint-Maur | 17 July 1848 | 20 December 1848 |
| Alexandre César Victor Charles Destutt de Tracy | 20 December 1848 | 31 October 1849 |
| Joseph Romain-Desfossés | 31 October 1849 | 9 January 1851 |
| Théodore Ducos | 9 January 1851 | 24 January 1851 |
| Auguste Nicolas Vaillant | 24 January 1851 | 10 April 1851 |
| Justin de Chasseloup-Laubat | 10 April 1851 | 26 October 1851 |
| Hippolyte Fortoul | 26 October 1851 | 3 December 1851 |
| Théodore Ducos | 3 December 1851 | 17 April 1855 |
| Ferdinand Hamelin | 19 April 1855 | 24 November 1860 |
| Justin de Chasseloup-Laubat | 24 November 1860 | 20 January 1867 |
| Charles Rigault de Genouilly Charles Rigault de Genouilly Pierre-Louis-Charles Rigault de Genouilly was a nineteenth-century French admiral... |
20 January 1867 | 4 September 1870 |
| Maurice Fourichon | 4 September 1870 | 19 February 1871 |
| Louis Marie Alexis Pothuau | 19 February 1871 | 25 May 1873 |
| Charles Dompierre d'Hormoy | 25 May 1873 | 22 May 1874 |
| Louis Raymond de Montaignac de Chauvance | 22 May 1874 | 9 March 1876 |
| Martin Fourichon | 9 March 1876 | 17 May 1877 |
| Albert Gicquel des Touches | 17 May 1877 | 23 November 1877 |
| Albert Roussin | 23 November 1877 | 13 December 1877 |
| Louis Marie Alexis Pothuau | 13 December 1877 | 4 February 1879 |
| Jean Bernard Jauréguiberry | 4 February 1879 | 29 January 1880 |
| Georges Charles Cloué | 29 January 1880 | 14 November 1881 |
| Auguste Gougeard (Marine only) | 14 November 1881 | 30 January 1882 |
| Jean Bernard Jauréguiberry | 30 January 1882 | 29 January 1883 |
| François de Mahy | 31 January 1883 | 31 February 1883 |
| Charles Brun Charles Brun (France) Charles Brun was a 1st class engineer of the French Navy stationed at Rochefort, France.He was famously involved in building the submarine Plongeur, which had been designed by Simon Bourgeois, in 1862.... |
31 February 1883 | 9 August 1883 |
| Alexandre Louis François Peyron | 9 August 1883 | 6 April 1885 |
| Charles Eugène Galiber | 6 April 1885 | 7 January 1886 |
| Théophile Aube | 7 January 1886 | 30 May 1887 |
| Édouard Barbey | 30 May 1887 | 12 December 1887 |
| François de Mahy | 12 December 1887 | 5 January 1888 |
| Jules François Émile Krantz | 5 January 1888 | 22 February 1889 |
| Benjamin Jaurès Benjamin Jaurès Constant Louis Jean Benjamin Jaurès was a 19th-century French Admiral and Senator, who was active in Japan during the Bombardment of Shimonoseki and the Boshin war .... |
22 February 1889 | 13 March 1889 |
| Jules François Émile Krantz (Marine only) | 19 March 1889 | 10 November 1889 |
| Édouard Barbey (Marine only) | 10 November 1889 | 27 February 1892 |
| Godefroy Cavaignac (Marine only to 8 March 1892) | 27 February 1892 | 8 March 1892 |
| Auguste Burdeau Auguste Burdeau Auguste-Laurent Burdeau was a French politician.He was the son of a laborer at Lyon. Forced from childhood to earn his own living, he was enabled to secure an education by bursarships at the Lycée at Lyon and at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris.In 1870 he was at the École Normale Supérieure in... |
8 March 1892 | 11 January 1893 |
Naval Ministers, 1893-1947
| Minister | Began | Ended |
| Adrien, Barthélemy, Louis, Henri Rieunier | 12 January 1893 | 3 December 1893 |
| Auguste Alfred Lefèvre | 3 December 1893 | 30 May 1894 |
| Félix Faure Félix Faure Félix François Faure was President of France from 1895 until his death.-Biography:Félix François Faure was born in Paris, the son of a small furniture maker... |
30 May 1894 | 17 January 1895 |
| Armand Louis Charles Gustave Besnard | 17 January 1895 | 1 November 1895 |
| Édouard Locroy | 1 November 1895 | 29 April 1896 |
| Armand Louis Charles Gustave Besnard | 29 April 1896 | 28 June 1898 |
| Édouard Locroy | 28 June 1898 | 22 June 1899 |
| Jean-Marie de Lanessan | 22 June 1899 | 7 June 1902 |
| Charles Camille Pelletan | 7 June 1902 | 24 January 1905 |
| Gaston Thomson Gaston Thomson Gaston Thomson was a French politician born January 29, 1848 in Oran and died May 14, 1932, at Bône .He was a member of the French Chamber of Deputies for the Department of Constantine for fifty years and three months... |
24 January 1905 | 22 October 1908 |
| Alfred Picard | 22 October 1908 | 24 July 1909 |
| Augustin Boué de Lapeyrère Augustin Boué de Lapeyrère Augustin Manuel Hubert Gaston Boué de Lapeyrère was a French admiral during World War I. He was a strong proponent of naval reform, and is comparable to Admiral Jackie Fisher of the British Royal Navy.-Biography:... |
24 July 1909 | 2 March 1911 |
| Théophile Delcassé Théophile Delcassé Théophile Delcassé was a French statesman.-Biography:He was born at Pamiers, in the Ariège département... |
2 March 1911 | 21 January 1913 |
| Pierre Baudin | 21 January 1913 | 9 December 1913 |
| Ernest Monis Ernest Monis Antoine Emmanuel Ernest Monis was a French politician of the Third Republic, deputy of Gironde from 1885 to 1889 and then senator of the same department from 1891 to 1920... |
9 December 1913 | 20 March 1914 |
| Armand Gauthier de l'Aude | 20 March 1914 | 9 June 1914 |
| Émile Chautemps | 9 June 1914 | 13 June 1914 |
| Armand Gauthier de l'Aude | 13 June 1914 | 3 August 1914 |
| Victor Augagneur | 3 August 1914 | 29 October 1915 |
| Lucien Lacaze | 29 October 1915 | 2 August 1917 |
| Charles Chaumet | 2 August 1917 | 16 November 1917 |
| Georges Leygues Georges Leygues Georges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born... |
16 November 1917 | 20 January 1920 |
| Adolphe Landry | 20 January 1920 | 16 January 1921 |
| Gabriel Guist'hau Gabriel Guist'hau Gabriel Guist'hau, was a French politician .Guist'hau left Réunion for Nantes to study law there, and was elected the mayor of Nantes in 1908. He went on to become a deputy to the Assemblée nationale from 1910 to 1924... |
16 January 1921 | 15 January 1922 |
| Flaminius Raiberti | 15 January 1922 | 29 March 1924 |
| Maurice Bokanowski | 29 March 1924 | 9 June 1924 |
| Désiré Ferry Désiré Ferry Désiré Ferry was a French politician of the Third Republic.Désiré Ferry was born in Metz. He studied law at the University of Nancy and worked as a writer and publisher. During the First World War he served with the French Army... |
9 June 1924 | 14 June 1924 |
| Jacques-Louis Dumesnil | 14 June 1924 | 17 April 1925 |
| Émile Borel Émile Borel Félix Édouard Justin Émile Borel was a French mathematician and politician.Borel was born in Saint-Affrique, Aveyron. Along with René-Louis Baire and Henri Lebesgue, he was among the pioneers of measure theory and its application to probability theory. The concept of a Borel set is named in his... |
17 April 1925 | 28 November 1925 |
| Georges Leygues Georges Leygues Georges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born... |
28 November 1925 | 19 July 1926 |
| René Renoult René Renoult René Renoult was a French Minister and lawyer.Renoult is the son of Étienne and Élisa Geranger, a female day laborer. He studied at the Faculty of Law in Paris and obtained his doctorate in 1888... |
19 July 1926 | 23 July 1926 |
| Georges Leygues Georges Leygues Georges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born... |
23 July 1926 | 21 February 1930 |
| Albert Sarraut Albert Sarraut Albert-Pierre Sarraut was a French Radical politician, twice Prime Minister during the Third Republic.Sarraut was born in Bordeaux, Gironde, France.He was Governor-General of French Indochina, from 1912 to 1919.... |
21 February 1930 | 2 March 1930 |
| Jacques-Louis Dumesnil | 2 March 1930 | 13 December 1930 |
| Albert Sarraut Albert Sarraut Albert-Pierre Sarraut was a French Radical politician, twice Prime Minister during the Third Republic.Sarraut was born in Bordeaux, Gironde, France.He was Governor-General of French Indochina, from 1912 to 1919.... |
13 December 1930 | 27 January 1931 |
| Charles Dumont | 27 January 1931 | 20 February 1932 |
| Georges Leygues Georges Leygues Georges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born... |
3 June 1932 | 2 September 1933 |
| Albert Sarraut Albert Sarraut Albert-Pierre Sarraut was a French Radical politician, twice Prime Minister during the Third Republic.Sarraut was born in Bordeaux, Gironde, France.He was Governor-General of French Indochina, from 1912 to 1919.... |
6 September 1933 | 30 January 1934 |
| Louis de Chappedelaine | 30 January 1934 | 9 February 1934 |
| François Piétri François Piétri François Piétri was a minister in several governments in the later years of the French Third Republic and was French ambassador to Spain from 1940 to 1944 under the Vichy regime.... |
9 February 1934 | 1 June 1936 |
| Alphonse Gasnier-Duparc | 1 June 1936 | 22 June 1937 |
| César Campinchi César Campinchi César Campinchi was a lawyer and French statesman in the beginning of the 20th century.... |
22 June 1937 | 18 January 1938 |
| William Bertrand | 18 January 1938 | 13 March 1938 |
| César Campinchi César Campinchi César Campinchi was a lawyer and French statesman in the beginning of the 20th century.... |
13 March 1938 | 16 June 1940 |
| François Darlan François Darlan Jean Louis Xavier François Darlan was a French naval officer. His great-grandfather was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar... |
16 June 1940 | 18 April 1942 |
| Gabriel Auphan Gabriel Auphan Gabriel Paul Auphan was a French admiral, chief of cabinet of Admiral Darlan under Vichy France and later Secrétaire d'État à la marine of Vichy.- Early career :... |
18 April 1942 | 18 November 1942 |
| Jean-Marie Charles Abrial Jean-Marie Charles Abrial Jean-Marie Charles Abrial was a French Admiral and Naval Minister. He fought in both World wars, and was known mostly for his actions at Dunkirk in 1940.-Early years:... |
18 November 1942 | 26 March 1943 |
| Henri Bléhaut | 26 March 1943 | 20 August 1944 |
| Louis Jacquinot Louis Jacquinot Louis Jacquinot was a French lawyer and politician, and chief of Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré's office.Jacquinot was born in Gondrecourt-le-Château in 1898. Entering parliament in 1932, he later served for a short time as under-secretary of state for home affairs in Paul Reynaud's cabinet... |
9 November 1943 | 21 November 1945 |