HAMELIN, FRANCOIS ALPHONSE French admiral, was born,at Pont l'Eveque on Sept. 2, 1796, and sailed as a cabin-boy in the frigate "Venus" for the Indian Ocean in 1806. In 1810 he was a prisoner in England for a short time. Under the Restoration he held commands in Algerian and Pacific waters. In the Crimean War he collaborated with the English admiral Dundas in the bombardment of Sevastopol. He was minister of marine from 1854 to 186o. His administration was notable for the energy shown in adopting and developing the use of armour. The launch of the "Gloire" in 1859 set the example of constructing sea-going ironclads. The first English ironclad, the "Warrior," was designed as an answer to the "Gloire." When Napoleon III. made his first concession to Liberal opposition, Ad miral Hamelin was one of the ministers sacrificed. He held no further command, and died on Jan. Io, 1864.