Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin | Admiral of the French Navy | 1st Baron Hamelin
Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin stands as the foundational figure of the House in its titled form. A senior naval officer of the First French Empire, his career unfolded during a period in which maritime command was inseparable from national survival and imperial ambition.
Born on 13 October 1768 in Honfleur, Normandy, Hamelin rose from early seafaring beginnings to become one of the most distinguished naval commanders of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. Entering maritime service at a young age, he first sailed in the merchant marine before beginning military service in 1792, at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. He served with distinction in numerous engagements against the Royal Navy and participated in exploratory voyages across the Indian Ocean and Southern Seas.
Hamelin’s career spanned more than four decades of conflict and command. Among his most notable achievements was his role as second in command at the Battle of Grand Port (1810) — a rare and celebrated French naval victory during the Napoleonic Wars, fought off the coast of Mauritius. This victory was of such significance that it is one of the few naval battles inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which also features Hamelin's name.
In recognition of his meritorious service, Emperor Napoleon I created Hamelin Baron Hamelin of the French Empire in 1811, binding the title to naval prowess, exploration, and public duty. He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour and continued his service into the Bourbon Restoration years, retiring with the rank of Rear Admiral. Hamelin died in Paris on 23 April 1839, remembered as a paragon of Napoleonic naval command and a foundational figure in the House’s legacy.
Ferdinand-Alphonse Hamelin | Admiral of the French Navy & Minister of Marine | 2nd Baron Hamelin
Ferdinand-Alphonse Hamelin (2 September 1796 – 10 January 1864) was born in Pont-l’Évêque, Normandy, and was the nephew and direct protégé of Admiral Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin. He began his naval career in 1806, serving as a cabin boy aboard the frigate Vénus under his uncle’s command during the Mauritius Campaign. This early exposure to maritime conflict afforded him invaluable experience during the height of the Napoleonic Wars.
In the years following the fall of the First Empire, Ferdinand-Alphonse continued his ascent through the ranks. He fought in the 1823 French expedition in Spain and distinguished himself in operations along the coast of Algeria during the 1830 conquest. His career later took him to command positions in the Pacific, where he demonstrated diplomatic skill in disputes over colonial interests.
Hamelin rose to Vice-Admiral in 1848 and played a significant role in the Crimean War, cooperating with allied navies in bombardments and operations in the Black Sea. Promoted to full Admiral in 1854, he was subsequently appointed Minister of Marine, overseeing reforms that included support for modern ironclad warship construction — most notably the launch of the Gloire, a pioneering sea-going ironclad. His administration also organized expeditions to Italy and China.
Hamelin’s tenure exemplified the evolution of French naval power through the 19th century. Although his political career ended in 1860 with changes in imperial leadership, his influence on modern naval structure endured. He died in Paris in 1864, serving the House with distinction across both command and ministerial office.
