Édouard Bouët-Willaumez

Having joined the French Navy, in 1824 he embarked on a five-year voyage, first in the Mediterranean (where he saw action at the Battle of Navarino in 1827) and then in the Indian Ocean.

In 1843, Bouët began a period of expansion when he captured the port of Saint-Louis and allowed privately owned trading companies (mainly from Bordeaux) to handle the administration of the town; he also sent a new mission to Bambuk, and signed a commercial treaty with the ruler of Bundu.

In 1845 he was adopted by his uncle, Vice-Admiral Willaumez, whose name he took, and married the daughter of Admiral Lemorant — two events that opened a number of doors for him.

[1] During this period he restored French sovereignty over Guinea, and was named Commander of the Légion d'honneur for courage shown during a bayonet-charge on land against rebellious tribes.

After these operations, he was appointed to the committee responsible for coast defences, and oversaw works at the ports of Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer which became part of France at the end of the war.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he was named to command a squadron intended to attack the north German coasts, but French defeats on land put an end to these plans.