Etienne Jacques Joseph Macdonald

Etienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre Macdonald , (born the November 17th 1765 with Sedan, the Ardennes, dead the September 25th 1840 in its castle of Courcelles, close to Gien (Loiret)) was a Maréchal of Empire (1809), duke of Tarente.

Biography

Origin

It was born with Sedan, of a Scottish family originating in the island of South Uist, in the Hébrides. His/her father, Neil MacEachen (later MacDonald) off Howbeg, protected the escape from Prince Charles Edouard Stuart towards the France. Neil joined in 1767 about fifteen Jacobites exiled with Sancerre since 1752. Neil MacDonald is established there with his wife and her children, of which Alexandre. This last was used in the Régiment as Ogilvy. MacDonald was used initially in the Irish regiment as Dillon in 1784 in Holland; junior in the 87e infantry in 1787.

French revolution

With Jemmapes, it was made colonel of old the Régiment of Picardy. Captain after the Battle of Jemappes, it arrives quickly at the rank of general. In 1795, in the Armed with North of Pichegru, it continues the English of the duke of York, passes the cold rivers, and captures with its cavalry the Dutch fleet taken in the ices.

After having been used for the armed with the Rhine and Italy, it was named governor of Rome and the States of the church. In 1799, when the French evacuated Rome, it made with glory the countryside against the allied armies.

It delivered the Bataille of Trebbia which lasted three days, beat an army of 50.000 men with 35.000, accepted several wounds and succeeds in making its junction with the general Moreau.

See also: Battle of Trebbia

The Consulate and the First Empire

It ordered from Versailles at the time of the 18 brumaire year VIII, and assisted Napoleon Bonaparte strongly. After the Battle Marengo and the Countryside of the Grisons, Macdonald was sent in Denmark as minister Plénipotentiaire until in 1803. On its return, it accepted the title of large officer of the Légion of honor.

Disgraced at the time of the business of Moreau, which it defended, it was only in 1809 that it took again the command of a division in Italy.

It is with Wagram that it was made marshal, after having inserted the center of the enemy army which 200 parts protected from gun.

On its return to Paris, in 1810, it was created duke of Tarente, and went to take the command of an army corps in Spain. In 1812, it ordered the 10°Corps in Russia. In 1813, it took share, in a glorious way, with the battles of Lützen, Bautzen and Leipzig. There, it passed to the stroke the Elster, where Poniatowski perishes, and assisted, the October 30th, with the Bataille of Hanau. During the countryside of 1814, it ordered the left wing of the army, and attended Fontainebleau with the abdication of Napoleon, to which it contributed much.

After the abdication of Fontainebleau, it accepts the Pairie the June 4th 1814. In the night of 19 with the March 20th 1815, it started from Paris with Louis XVIII, and, after having accompanied it until Menin, it returned to Paris, refused any use of Napoleon, and made his service in the national guard like simple pomegranate.

After Waterloo, it is made Grand chancellor of the Legion of honor.

With the return of the Bourbons, the duke of Tarente accepted the mission of laying off the Armée with the Loire. In 1821, it was named large chancellor about the Legion of honor, dignity which it preserved until in 1831.

He died the September 17th 1840, in his Château of Courcelles, close to Gien (Loiret), 75 years old, leaving a 15 years old son. The words pronounced by Napoleon with Sainte-Hélène have a high value, especially when they concern men of which it could have to complain; he said: “Macdonald had a great honesty. ”

States of service

Titles, decorations and distinctions

Partial sources

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