Amédée William Merlaud-Ponty | |
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Governor General of French West Africa | |
In office 1908 – 13 June 1915 |
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Preceded by | Ernest Roume |
Succeeded by | François Joseph Clozel |
Personal details | |
Born |
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France |
4 February 1866
Died | 13 June 1915 Dakar, Senegal |
(aged 49)
Nationality | French |
Amédée William Merlaud-Ponty was a French colonial administrator (b. 4 February 1866 in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime; d. 13 June 1915 in Dakar, Senegal). He was a Governor General of French West Africa (1908–1915) who particularly interested himself in the economic development and education of Africa.
During World War I, Merlaud-Ponty was responsible for recruiting volunteers for African battlefields.
At a 1923 monument dedicated "to the creators of French West Africa and the glory of the Black army" features Paul Ducuing's statues of the tirailleur Demba and the zouave Dupont. The same monument honours the French conqueror of Senegal, Louis Faidherbe, as well as four Governors General, Noël Ballay, Joost van Vollenhoven, François Clozel and Ponty himself.