Albert Gicquel des Touches

Albert Auguste Gicquel des Touches (10 April 1818 in Brest – 18 May 1901 in Versailles) was a French naval officer. He also served as naval minister from May to November 1877.

Gicquel des Touches joined the Navy in 1832, serving on the Aspirant on 16 October 1833 and the Vessel Teaches on 1 May 1838. He also served aboard the Juno, the Station Brazil, and La Plata from 1838 to 1841. Subsequently, Gicquel des Touches was aboard the Belle Poule, where he performed a new campaign in these waters and was noticed by his superiors for his hydrographic observations from 1842 to 1843.

Gicquel des Touches received the rank of Lieutenant on 1 November 1843. He was later named Adjutant of Admiral Tréhouart aboard the Jupiter, the Friedland, and the Inflexible. He was promoted to Chief of Staff Admiral on Taenarus during the expedition to Rome in 1849. He was promoted to Captain on 9 August 1858. Gicquel des Touches became the new Chief of Staff of the Wing on Britain from 1860 to 1862, where he participated in the expedition to Syria. From 1862 to 1864, he commanded the gunnery school ship Montebello. In the more advanced stages of his career, he was named Maritime Prefect of the 3rd district to Lorient in November 1871, Vice Admiral on 3 August 1875, and eventually Minister for the Navy of France from May to November 1877.

In 1881, Gicquel des Touches worked as Director General of deposit maps and Navy planes, at the University of Paris. He also served as Chairman of the Hydrographic Committee (Members: Pierre Gaussin, Chief Hydrographer Engineer; Louis Lanneau, Charles Layrle, ship captains, Eugene Manen, hydrographic engineer, François Boullet, Assistant Engineer hydrographer Secretary); Vice-President of the Lighthouse Commission (Members: Paul Auguste Buret Rear Admiral, Émile Zédé Rear Admiral Peter Gaussin, Chief Hydrographer Engineer).

He left active duty in May 1884 and dedicated time in his retirement to charitable works for Mariners.

Writings

Instructions on Admiral Tréhoüart (1798-1873), Paris, eldest Challamel 1874.
Notice on transportation to French Guiana and New Caledonia during the years 1871-1872-1873-1874 & 1875, Paris, imp. nat 1877.
The Truth about the military laws ... , Paris, Bloud and Barral, 1888.
On Sunday at the Protestant nations, report by Vice Admiral Gicquel Marquis Des Touches, Paris, impr. F. Survey 1889.

Sources

Annuaires de la Marine 1860, 1869, 1881.

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