Rochefort-Sur-Mer
a French a seaport, naval arsenal, and fortress of the first class, in the department of Charente-Inférieure; on the right bank of the Charente, 9 miles from its mouth, and 18 miles S. S. E. of Rochelle, 89 S.
W. of Poitiers. It was founded in 1665 as a naval station by Colbert, Louis XIV.'s minister, and fortified by Vauban, being covered now on the sea side by strong forts; and it is a modern, clean, well-built place. It contains important public works. The most celebrated of these is the naval hospital (1783-1788). There are both a naval harbor, and, higher up the river, a commercial harbor with three basins; Rochefort besides possesses rope walks, walks, cannon foundries, and other establishments for the manufacture and preservation of naval stores and marine apparatus of every kind. From 1777 till 1852 it was the seat of a great convict prison. Napoleon meant to take ship for the United States at Rochefort, but instead had to surrender to Captain Maitland of the "Bellerophon," July 15, 1815. During the World War Rochefort became an important military center. Pop. (1911) 35,019.