Joseph Desmazes

Joseph Gustave Desmazes was born in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, on 16 November 1806. His father was Joseph Desmazes (1746–1842), naval commissioner.[1] He joined the navy on 15 June 1819 and was commissioned on 26 December 1826. He became a sub-commissioner on 22 June 1840, deputy commissioner on 23 December 1847 and commissioner on 25 May 1853.[1] He was named ordonnateur (head of administration) of Guadeloupe on 25 May 1853.[2] He was interim governor in Martinique, then in turn in Guyana, Reunion and Guadeloupe.[3] He was acting governor of Guadeloupe from 26 February 1864 to 23 April 1864.[4]

In 1848 Desmazes married a creole from Martinique.[5] Desmazes was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1848, Officer on 18 September 1860 and Commander on 4 January 1870. He retired as commissioner-general in 1870. He became a municipal councilor at Fort-de-France, and president of the General Council of Martinique, where he represented the canton of Mouillage.[3]

On 27 February 1876 Desmazes was elected Senator of Martinique by 36 votes out of 44.[3] His election was sponsored by Victor Schœlcher.[5] He sat with the Republican left. He refused the dissolution of the chamber demanded by the Broglie-Fourtou ministry in 1877, and supported the Republican ministries that followed. He was reelected in the triennial renewal of 5 January 1879 by 37 of 43 votes, and again sat with the Republicans in the senate.[3] He died of an attack of apoplexy (stroke) in Paris on 22 September 1882.[2]