Notable inhabitants thumb|140px|Pierre Loti, 1892 Rochefort was the birthplace of: Louis-René Levassor de Latouche Tréville (1745–1804), French admiral. Charles Rigault de Genouilly (1807–1873), French admiral, conqueror of Vietnam. Pierre Loti (1850–1923), a French naval officer and novelist. His house is now a museum. Amédée William Merlaud-Ponty (1866–1915), Governor General of French West Africa. Pauline Réage (1907–1998), pseudonym of Anne Desclos, author Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908–1961), philosopher Pierre Salviac, (born 1946), a French journalist, former rugby-match commentator and since then polemicist.
nOTAbLe InhAbitANts ThumB|140Px|pieRre LOtI, 1892 RoChefort wAs tHe birThPLacE Of: louiS-rené leVAssor de latoUche tréVilLe (1745–1804), FReNcH AdMiRal. CHarles rigauLt de GENouilly (1807–1873), fReNch AdmIRAl, ConqUeRor Of VieTnam. pIerRe lOti (1850–1923), a fREnCh nAval oFFICeR AND NOvelISt. hIs house Is now A MusEuM. amédÉe wiLliam MeRLaUD-pONTy (1866–1915), govErNOr generAL of frEnch wESt AfrIcA. paulIne réage (1907–1998), psEUDonym of aNNe DescLos, AuthOr MauriCe mErleau-poNTy (1908–1961), PhIlosophER PIeRre SalvIAc, (born 1946), a FrencH journaliST, fORMer rugBy-mATch COmmEnTaTor anD SiNce TheN polemicIST.