Hello Ron,
I am also interested in Adolph Hugel. I am already in touch with Liane. Do you have any information on him from his days in Philadelphia. You mention that he is French born, and a merchant in Philadelphia. Do you have any sources for this?
He had a grand-uncle named Adolph Hugel who was a member of the German Parliament for Darmstadt in 1848. http://www.bundesarchiv.de/foxpublic/files/DB50_Anhang.pdf on page 14. He is referred to the Minister of Finance in 1867.
How were the ships named during this period? Was it named after a chief financier? Could the building of the ship have been financed by the merchant in Philadelphia? How much would be needed for this? Or could the young German government have helped to finance this for use in the war? This indeed would be very interesting.
Any information you have on these issues, and sources you can direct me to would be most helpful and much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Peter Hakkenberg