François-Xavier Donzelot (born the January 7th 1764 with Mamirolle, Doubs - died in 1843) was a French soldier, Brigadier general, then of division in the armies of the Révolution and the Empire.

A brilliant military career

François-Xavier Donzelot enters to the service in 1785, in the regiment Royal-The-Navy - formed the December 20th 1669 - then in garrison in the Corsica island of . A few years afterwards, it left this regiment to be attached to 1 ' staff of the military government of the Alsace. It was employed with the ministry for the war, and was named, in 1792, second lieutenant with the 21e regiment of cavalry.

In 1793, it returns in the active service and will take part in number of the campaigns which illustrated the French weapons. He is lieutenant with the 22e hunters with horse, then adjudant-general major in the same year, and adjudant-general chief of brigade the June 4th 1794.

He made with distinction the campaigns of the French revolution under Pichegru, his compatriot and his friend, and under Moreau. Donzelot is used for the Armée with the Rhine, makes the Campagne of Germany, under the generals Desaix and Moreau, and was with the brilliant retirement of this last, by ordering some the right wing. It made, as general adjudant, the Campagne of Holland, under the orders of the general Pichegru. In 1797, it was wounded twice with the Attaque of the bridge of Huningue.

Appointed chief of staff to the forwarding of Ireland, it made the Campagne of Egypt, and was announced to the Bataille of Sediman, the Bataille of Héliopolis and the Siège of Cairo. In the last the Council of war of 1799, it spoke against the evacuation about the Egypt and proposed to make the war in the High-Egypt, with the manner of the Mamelouk S, while waiting for reinforcements.

Named Brigadier general the July 23rd 1799, on its return in France, he was assistant of the ministry for the war of the prince Berthier, then employed with the camps of Bayonne, Brest and with the Armée with Italy in 1804 and 1805. Named Brigadier general on a purely provisional basis the June 23rd 1799, the count Donzelot becomes to it officially the March 29th 1801.

It will carry out a brilliant career in the armies of Napoleon. Companion of Desaix, with which it was illustrated during the Campagne of Egypt. It made under Masséna the campaigns of 1806 with 1807 and will be still illustrated with the army of Naples, with the Siège of Gaète (1806). The general adjudant Donzelot took part in almost all the businesses and was characterized there by its courage and its coolness.

The December 6th 1807, François-Xavier Donzelot becomes major general.

Governor of the Ionian islands (1808-1814)

Recognized as being the best specialist in the service of the Staff of his time and for its qualities of manager, it occupied of the responsibilities as a governor for the islands Ioniennes (1808 - 1814). The skill which the Donzelot general had shown in the various stations that it had occupied, and its firm character and integrates had been the reasons for this nomination.

It was under the orders of the Maréchal Masséna, when it was sent in the island of Corfou after the occupation by the France of the République of the Seven-Islands. Initially principal assistant of the general Berthier, the brother of the Marshal, it replaces it the March 28th 1808. Its authority in the Ioniennes islands was full with wisdom and moderation.

Hero in Waterloo

In 1814, the Ionian islands having been yielded to the British by the treaties, the Donzelot general was obliged to leave its government of the Ioniennes islands. Pointed out in 1814, Louis XVIII appointed it large officer of the Légion of honor.

In 1815, Waterloo was pilot of its intrepidity as of that of so much of brave men who perished there. Given up by the chief of staff of his division - the 2nd division of infantry - the adjudant ordering Becomes, and by its officers, - the brigadiers ordering the brigades were the general baron Schmidt and the general baron Aulard - Donzelot remained alone on the field of carnage, and was withdrawn behind the the Loire with the remainders of the army which had not given up their flags. It was named by it the chief of general staff, to replace the marshal Soult.

Governor of Martinique (1817-1826)

The count Donzelot continued his career after the Restauration. Indicated in 1816, among the general inspectors who were to reorganize the army under the ministry for the duke of Feltre, it completed his round when Louis XVIII, which had known to appreciate its character and its talents, appointed it governor of the Martinique, station which it will occupy of 1817 with 1826. (civil and military governor of Martinique the October 31st 1817, it asked for its recall in 1825).

The first acts of its administration, print of the character of wisdom of which it had given frequent evidence during its career, reconciled initially the affection to him and estimates colonists of Martinique. Unfortunately it does not succeed in making reign the harmony between the white colonists and free coloured persons, who are constantly made a deaf and animated war. Unceasingly harceléc by the white owners who wanted to exploit with their profit all the elements of prosperity which the colony offers, and to only enjoy freedom, Donzelot was too easily let persuade that the free coloured persons were animated spirit of rebellion and worked to make undergo in Martinique the fate of Saint-Domingue

In 1826, Donzelot was replaced and it was withdrawn with Mamirolle, where it passed its retirement in Mécène, surrounded artists and writers. L was an important giver for the church of his childhood, the museum of the Art schools of Besancon and for the commune of Neuilly-sur-Marne, where was its Château of City-Évrard and where still draws up its tomb. He died in Mamirolle, his native village, in 1843.

Its name is registered on the east coast of the Triumphal arch of the Star.

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