Louis Pierre Alexis Pothuau

He was twice Minister for the Navy and the Colonies and ended his career as France's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

He was made contre-amiral in 1864 and during the siege of Paris in 1870 commanded the forts in the south of the city, then headed a division in the battle at Gare-aux-Bœufs.

He was promoted to vice-admiral and elected deputy for Paris in the national assembly.

He joined the Centre gauche parliamentary group and entered the first ministry formed by Thiers as minister for the navy and the colonies (19 February 1871 – 25 May 1873).

Due to this he was re-appointed as naval minister in Dufaure's ministry (13 December 1877 – 4 February 1879).