Alexandre Elisabeth Michel Digeon

Alexandre Elisabeth Michel Digeon , wire of a Farmer general, was born with Paris, the June 27th 1771, military French.

He entered to the service as second lieutenant the 104e regiment of infantry, from where he spent a few months afterwards with the same rank in the 9th regiment of hunters to horse. Appointed major with 19th of dragons, Digeon was wounded of a blow of bayonet to the Attaque of the bridge of Kehl; it was it later with the Bataille of Trebbia without wanting to give up only one moment the command of its regiment of which it was invested by the death of its colonel; at the end of this battle if disputed, the horse of Digeon, killed under him, left it with the capacity of the enemy.

To the Battle Marengo, a brother Puîné of Digeon, which became also lieutenant-general, being distinguished in artillery from the consular guard, the First Consul, to his return to Paris, sent the general Bessières at Mr. Digeon, to compliment it and reassure it on a wound which it had received. Mr. Digeon did not hesitate to ask for the reward of his young person wire the exchange and for the recall to the colors of his oldest son. The winner of Marengo was the subject at once of Digeon of a particular trust; this one returned in its fatherland and was named colonel of the 26e hunters. This regiment took share with the great businesses of 1805, in particular of Lensberg and Austerlitz, where it took three standards. Digeon accepted the decoration of commander of the Légion of honor the shortly after this battle, where it was wounded.

It was it again close to Stralsund in 1807. Raised with the Brigadier general rank of , this same year, it ordered with more the large-distinction 20th and 25e of dragons to the battles of Heilsberg and Friedland.

Called in Spain the following year, it was pointed out there on November 23rd in a combat against Castanos. Become in 1812 civil and military governor of the provinces of Cordoue and Jaën, the Digeon general arrived by a wise administration, to gain the confidence of the inhabitants whom the devastations of the war had irritated and reduced to deepest misery. For six months whole, more than 7.000 individuals were torn off with the horrors of the famine.

The brilliant one led of Mr. Digeon, during the perilous retirement of the Andalusia, deserved to him, the March 3rd 1813, the rank of lieutenant-general. It was in this quality with the Bataille of Vittoria, where it was wounded for the fifth time. At the end of this same year it passed to the Armée with Catalonia under the marshal Suchet, and was in charge of the command of all the cavalry and the first division of infantry. Detached in 1814 with the Armed with Lyon, ordered by Augereau, it returned to this city, by a brilliance feat of arms, an important service.

The March 20th, the Austrians were advanced to the suburb of Saint-Just; one started to fight in the streets, and this large city, open of all shares, was seen at the time to be removed from sharp force. The Digeon general, towards whom was directed the most vigorous attack, takes again the offensive suddenly, seizes a battery, cuts in parts the regiment of Hiller, and brings back nearly 400 prisoners. This blow of strength stopped progress of the enemy at once. The occupation of Lyon, which could be so disastrous in this day, took place only the following day and under the terms of a capitulation.

After the Restoration, Digeon was employed as general inspector of cavalry; it was in this quality with Nevers at the time of the unloading of the Emperor. The Minister for the war having indicated it to order a division of cavalry, it hastened to come to join MISTER to Lyon, where it arrived on March 5th; after useless efforts maintaining the soldiers much, it left this city with the Duc of Tarente, when all the troops had given up their chiefs to join Napoleon i. The king named at once Digeon assistance-of-camp of MISTER. He did not take service during the Hundred Days. With the return of the king, it was named ordering division of cavalry of the royal guard, and later created Pair of France with the title of Viscount.

In the Upper House, it constantly supported the policy of the right-sided and the ministerial system which followed. In the political lawsuits, he voted for the most rigorous parties. In March 1823, in the absence of the Duke of Bellune, it was charged by interim with the wallet with the war; three months after it was named minister of state and member of the private Council, then commander-in-chief of the occupying army.

The Digeon general died the August 2nd 1826, with his ground of Ronqueux, close to Paris. He had married little time before his death a young lady of the house of Saulx-Tavannes.

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