A silent witness to Parisian history. The Impasse Antoine Venard is named for a man of the sea and state. But who was Antoine Venard?
The Impasse Antoine Venard likely commemorates Antoine-Jean-Marie Thévenard. He was a French vice admiral and politician. Thévenard navigated the turbulent waters of French history. He served under Louis XVI, the Revolution, Napoleon I, and Louis XVIII. His life spanned a period of immense change.
Born in Saint-Malo in 1733, Thévenard began his maritime career at a young age. He sailed as a lieutenant on merchantmen. His father captained these ships. Later, he sailed for the Compagnie des Indes.
At just 12 years old, he fought in several battles aboard a Compagnie des Indes ship. In 1754, he became a lieutenant. He destroyed English establishments on the Newfoundland coast. He participated in François Thurot’s expedition to Ireland in 1759. Thévenard earned the rank of Capitaine de vaisseau in the Compagnie des Indes in 1764. In 1768, he commanded his first East Indiaman.
Thévenard joined the French Royal Navy in 1770. His rank in the Compagnie des Indes earned him the rank of Commander. He was appointed Knight of the Order of Saint Louis. Rising to captain in 1773, he commanded the Lorient fleet from 1779. He was promoted to Brigadeer of the naval armies in 1784. Eventually he rose to Chef d’escadre in 1783.
In May 1791, Thévenard became ministre de la Marine under Louis XVI. However, he resigned in September 1791. His political opinions against the French Revolution caused him to fall out of favor.
Promoted to Vice-amiral in 1793, he commanded fleets at Brest, Toulon, and Rochefort. In 1801, he became Préfet maritime of Lorient. Later, he became Préfet maritime of Toulon, remaining there until 1815.
Thévenard presided over several court-martials. In 1799, he examined the events of the action of 18 June 1799. Rear-Admiral Perrée had lost his ships in this battle. He presided over the court-martial following the capture of the Guillaume Tell in 1800. He also led the enquiry on Rear-Admiral Dumanoir le Pelley’s conduct at the Battle of Trafalgar. In 1809, he investigated the capitulation of Flessingen.
Napoleon made Thévenard a comte d’Empire and a member of the Sénat conservateur in 1810. In 1814, he voted for Napoleon’s dismissal. Louis XVIII appointed him to the Chambre des Pairs after the Bourbon Restoration in 1814. On 27 December 1814, he was promoted Commandeur in the Order of Saint-Louis.
Thévenard died in Paris on 9 February 1815. He was interred in the Panthéon in Paris. His son, Antoine-René Thévenard, died at the Battle of Aboukir.
The Impasse Antoine Venard is a reminder of a man who served France through tumultuous times. A naval officer, politician, and member of prestigious academies, Thévenard’s life reflects the grand sweep of French history. Take a moment to reflect on his journey. The Impasse Antoine Venard stands as a silent tribute to a life well-lived in service to France.