LAVAUD, CHARLES FRANCOIS (1798-1878) was born at Lorient, France, and entered the French Navy as an apprentice in the frigate "Nymphe" in 1810. He served in India (1811), in the frigate Junon in the Greek war of independence (1826-28) and later commanded the Philomene (1829-31), the Endymion, Cuirassier, Aube and Bonite. (Ensign 1819; lieutenant 1825; captain 1832; post-captain 1840.) Before sailing for the Pacific in command of the Aube in 1839, Lavaud was called into conference by the Minister of Marine to discuss the protection proposed to be extended to the Nanto-Bordelaise Company in New Zealand and the whale fisheries. His orders were to hoist the French flag only at Akaroa. Lavaud arrived at Bay of Islands on 10 Jul 1840, and met Captain Hobson (with whom he discussed his intentions), Bishop Pompallier, de Thierry and others. In view of his statements Hobson despatched the brig Britomart on 22 Jul to take a magistrate to Akaroa, so that a British court of justice might be in existence when the French arrived. The Britomart reached her destination on 10 Aug, and five days later the Aube appeared off the harbour and was towed in by the British ship's boats. On the 17th the Comte de Paris arrived with the French immigrants, who landed two days later. When the Britomart left, on the 27th, Lavaud co-operated cordially with the magistrate (C. B. Robinson) in maintaining order in the settlement, even to the extent of landing a police guard to enforce the regulations they had agreed upon. Hobson, arriving on a visit on 12 Sep 1841, appreciated the tactful manner in which Lavaud had conducted himself, and, since the question was still being discussed between the two governments, he agreed not to weaken Lavaud's authority with the French people by hoisting the British flag on shore.

Lavaud terminated his commission in New Zealand in 1843 and returned to France. His conduct was warmly approved by the Minister of Marine and he was advanced to the rank of an officer of the Legion of Honour (1842). In 1846 he was appointed governor of the French establishments in Oceania, commander of the frigate Sirene and the naval squadron on the station. In 1849 he returned to France, and in 1856 was appointed second in command of the squadron of evolutions and later to command the first division of the squadron. In 1860 he was appointed to the general staff. Lavaud died on 11 Mar 1878. A street in Wellington is named after him.

G.B.O.P., 1841/311; 1842/569; Ministere de la Marine (Service Historique); Buick, French at Akaroa and Waitangi; Scholefield, Hobson.

Reference: Volume 1, page 261

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