The Navy « Écoles spéciales » (in Brest and Toulon) were created by a bill on Septembre 27th 1810 by Napoleon and his minister of Navy, Decrès. The revolutionary era had weakened the Naval officers corps ; therefore, this decision fit into the larger education reforms by Napoleon but calls back as well to the traditional schooling of Naval officers. But those schools were shut down during the Restauration : Only one generation of officers benefited from these schools and one third of those officers remained in the Navy. Studying their career shows that, in spite of the Navy being purged during the Restauration, Napoleon’s ambition to create an elite was kept alive by those alumni who managed to stay in the Navy. The second part tackles the key objectives of the Navy as seen through the eyes and actions of these officers. These men stand out through the energy they deploy in scientific endeavours and studies, but also through their service in the military operations of the time. This study shines a light on men who, thanks to their chosen profession, are a bridge between France and oversea territories, and know how to navigate the changing politics of their time, both domestically and overseas. Thanks to their logs and reports, we can also take a closer look at the men under the uniform, studying in a third part their family life, the health aspects of their profession and the relationship those officers have with civilian authorities and their hierarchy.