From the Intendance to the Commissariat of the Navy (1765 – 1909) : an example of administrative stability

Les commissaires de la Marine sont les officiers chargés, jusqu’en 2010, du soutien logistique et du service financier dans la Marine française. Ces compétences sont un reliquat de celles qu’ils exercent jusqu’à la veille de la Première Guerre mondiale. En effet, outre le service administratif de la Marine, les commissaires sont compétents, au XIXème siècle, pour les affaires maritimes : la navigation commerciale, la pêche maritime, le statut professionnel des marins, les colonies. Ils interviennent dans l’ensemble des matières relevant du ministre de la Marine et des colonies. Cette situation est héritée de l’Ancien Régime. Elle témoigne de l’influence des idées de Colbert sur l’administration des affaires maritimes. Quand il devient secrétaire d’État à la Marine, il met en place non pas un ministère technique chargé des opérations navales, mais une administration chargée de développer l’activité maritime française. Il s’appuie, à cette fin, sur les commissaires de la Marine. Cette situation ne cesse qu’avec l’apparition des navires modernes, en acier et propulsés par vapeur, au XIXème siècle.Commissioners of the Navy had been, until 2010, the officers in charge for logistical support and financial services in the French Navy. These areas of responsibility are merely a remainder of their former competences, which they had been exercising until the eve of the First World War. As a matter of fact, commissioners of the Navy were not only in charge for administrative services of the French Navy, but also for all maritime affairs, such as maritime navigation, marine fisheries, the professional status of sailors, and the colonies. They intervened within the field of competence of the Ministry for the Navy and the colonies. This situation is a legacy of the Monarchy and demonstrates the influence of Colbert’s doctrine with regard to the administration of maritime affairs. When he became Secretary of State for the Navy, he did not set up a ministry only concerned by naval warfare, but an administration in charge of the development of French maritime activity. For this purpose, he relied on commissioners of the Navy. This situation ceased only in the 19th century with the emergence of steamships