Raymond-Jean-Baptiste de Verninac Saint-Maur | |
---|---|
Born | Souillac, Lot, France | 11 June 1794
Died | 11 February 1873 Souillac, Lot, France | (aged 78)
Nationality | French |
Occupation | Naval officer |
Known for | Minister of the Navy and Colonies |
Raymond-Jean-Baptiste de Verninac Saint-Maur (11 June 1794 – 11 February 1873) was a French naval officer who became a Minister of the Navy and Colonies in the Cabinet of General Cavaignac (28 June 1848 to 20 December 1848), and an Admiral in the Navy.
The Verninac family originated in Gourdon, Lot in the former province of Quercy. Jean de Verninac was a counsellor of the king in Villefranche in 1696. Another family member was vicar-general of Rodez in 1786. His nephew was the diplomat Raymond de Verninac Saint-Maur.[1]
Raymond-Jean-Baptiste de Verninac Saint-Maur was the son of François de Verninac (1753–1837) and Marie Delphy de Lisle of Salignac in Périgord.[2][a] His father was brother of the diplomat Raymond de Verninac,[7] He was born in Souillac on 11 June 1794. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1812. He advanced slowly during the peace that followed the end of the Napoleonic Wars. He was promoted to sublieutenant in 1819 and lieutenant in 1824.[8]
Verninac was appointed under-secretary of state for the Navy and Colonies on 6 June 1848, and Minister of the Navy and Colonies from 17 July to 20 December 1848 in the cabinet headed by General Louis-Eugène Cavaignac.[8] He became a deputy for Lot in July 1848. Severe cuts to the naval budget prevented Verninac from implementing his ideas for reform of the navy and construction of modern vessels. He was named Rear Admiral on 16 December 1848. He left office fours days later when Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was announced winner of the presidential elections. Verminac chose to remain faithful to Cavaignac.[10]
On 8 July 1849 Verninac was elected representative for Lot in the Legislative Assembly. He was general councillor for Lot from 1848 to 1852.[3] Verninac did not sit in the Assembly after the coup d'état of 2 December 1851. Bonaparte named him governor of Réunion, then of the French establishments in India. He retired from active service in June 1856, and returned to France in 1857.[11] On 30 December 1864 he was made Commander of the Legion of Honour.[3]
Verninac died at Souillac on 11 February 1873 at the age of 78.[11] The Admiral's son Louis-Raymond de Verninac de Saint-Maur became a Commander in the navy.[1] His son Charles de Verninac was elected Senator for Lot in 1883.[3] A bust of Verninac was installed in Souillac in 1898, but was removed by German occupying forces in 1942. A replacement bust by the sculptor Pascal Peltier was erected on 30 June 2007.[12]