Tonnay-Charente (French pronunciation: [tɔnɛ ʃaʁɑ̃t]) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department, administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

In the 18th century, it was the home town of prominent Irish physician Dr. Theobald Jennings and his son, Irish-born French General Charles Edward Jennings de Kilmaine who fought in the American War of Independence and, more significantly, in the French revolutionary wars with Napoleon I of France. There is a personal portrait of General Kilmaine in the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) of Tonnay-Charente. Rue Kilmaine, a street in Tonnay-Charente was named in his honour.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 2,428 —     1800 2,275 −0.93% 1806 2,377 +0.73% 1821 1,173 −4.60% 1831 2,106 +6.03% 1836 3,202 +8.74% 1841 3,435 +1.41% 1846 3,296 −0.82% 1851 3,538 +1.43% 1856 3,699 +0.89% 1861 3,703 +0.02% 1866 3,763 +0.32% 1872 3,872 +0.48% 1876 3,756 −0.76% 1881 3,904 +0.78% 1886 4,287 +1.89% 1891 4,249 −0.18% 1896 4,462 +0.98%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 4,696 +1.03% 1906 4,873 +0.74% 1911 4,911 +0.16% 1921 4,529 −0.81% 1926 4,495 −0.15% 1931 4,537 +0.19% 1936 4,859 +1.38% 1946 4,830 −0.06% 1954 5,161 +0.83% 1962 5,732 +1.32% 1968 6,332 +1.67% 1975 6,430 +0.22% 1982 6,380 −0.11% 1990 6,814 +0.83% 1999 6,628 −0.31% 2007 7,434 +1.44% 2012 7,817 +1.01% 2017 8,010 +0.49%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

• Charles Edward Jennings de Kilmaine
• Communes of the Charente-Maritime department

• Official website