Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars | |
|---|---|
 Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars | |
| Born | (1793-08-03)3 August 1793 La Fessardière, nearSaumur, France |
| Died | 16 March 1864(1864-03-16) (aged 70) Paris, France |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service | .svg) French Navy |
| Years of service | 1804–1858 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars (3 August 1793 – 16 March 1864) was a French naval officer important in France's annexation ofFrench Polynesia.
He was born at the castle of La Fessardière, nearSaumur. His uncleAristide Aubert du Petit-Thouars was one of the heroes of theBattle of the Nile. He joined theFrench Navy in 1804, where he was a cabin boy in the Boulogne fleet.
He was the captain of theInconstant from 1823 to 1825. He sailed her to Brazil, and remained her captain on station in Brazil. He was promoted to Commander (Capitaine de frégate) in 1824.
Du Petit-Thouars frequently travelled toAlgeria, and had a decisive role in the conquest ofAlgiers, where he developed the attack plans. During the battle, he commanded the 20-gunGriffon.
He was later put in charge of the Southern Seas command, in thePacific Ocean. In 1834 he played a key role in protecting French shipping interests against the Peruvians.
He became "Capitaine de vaisseau" on 6 January 1834, and accomplished a circumnavigation between 1836 and 1839 on the frigateVénus. Also on board were the hydrographerUrbain Dortet of Tessan, the doctor-naturalistAdolphe Simon Neboux, and the surgeonCharles René Augustin Léclancher. During this voyage theMarquesas were explored. He published an account in 1840 with the titleVoyage around the world on the frigate Venus during the years 1836-1839 (French:Voyage autour du monde sur la frégate "la Vénus" pendant les années 1836-1839); the book contained maps of the ports visited.[1]
He was made Rear-Admiral (French:Contre-amiral) on 12 July 1841, in charge of the Pacific Naval Division. His mission was to take possession of theMarquesas Islands. InTahiti, he confronted QueenPōmare IV, and the English missionary and ConsulGeorge Pritchard (1796–1883). He managed to expel Pritchard and established a French protectorate over Tahiti, and the Marguesas Islands, which continues as of 2018.[2] He was initially denounced for his actions by the French government, which feared a conflict withGreat Britain. Relations between France and Great Britain soured considerably during the reign ofLouis-Philippe, due to this so-called "Pritchard Affair".
Du Petit-Thouars became a Vice-Admiral (French:Vice-amiral) in 1846.
Du Petit-Thouars retired from the navy in 1858.
He died in Paris in 1864.
He had no children, but adopted the son of his sister, known asAbel-Nicolas Bergasse du Petit-Thouars, who also became an Admiral, and played an important role during theBoshin War inJapan.
Admiral du Petit-Thouars was a significant enough botanist to have his name given an official abbreviation.The standardauthor abbreviationA.Thouars is used to indicate this person as the author whenciting abotanical name.[3]
His grand-uncles:
His nephew and adopted son:
