François Bontemps

François Bontemps (June 1st 1753 with Saumur, October 29th 1811, idem), baron d' Abaumont , was a French soldier, become in particular brigadier general, then Baron d' Empire.

François Bontemps was born in a family from craftsmen (they work copper and bronzes) from Saumur, in a house located at current 11, rue Jean Jaurès. The François young person is intended by his parents for the priesthood and will thus make his studies with the college of the Oratory of Saumur, then the seminar of Angers.

At 19 years, in 1772, François Bontemps who does not have the vocation to become priest decides to engage in the army, in the Régiment King-Infantry. In 1784, having reached the maximum rank for a commoner in an army of Old Mode (Fourier-writer) since two years and indicator which it could not progress any more, François Bontemps gives his leave on May 4th and takes again the ways of the church.

In 1789 the day before the Revolution, he is confessor of the nuns fontevrists near Meaux. François Bontemps who favorably accommodates the ideas of this incipient republic engages in 1792 as chaplain in the battalion of volunteers of the the Eure. An anecdote wants that one of the officers of the battalion shouted to him by seeing it: With bottom the cap! it what François answered: the priest forgives you, but the citizen asks for reason. . He follows a duel gained by François Bontemps, who kills his adversary. At all events some month later François Bontemps is elected lieutenant by his men.

François Bontemps continuous to charge with its men and to be of all the engagements what is worth to him the nickname of Bayard by his men. May 3rd 1800, it is wounded by a ball in the neighborhoods of Engen, but in spite of that, it continues to fight and two days later takes part in the Bataille of Mooskirch but its wound worsens and François Bontemps falls ill. It must then be put following the army.

Finally put at the retirement after a short return in Molitor division, François returns to Saumur or it buys a private mansion on current the Place Allain-Targé. François Bontemps dies the October 29th 1811 and is buried in the cemetery of Varrains where the commune made build a pyramid with its glory.

State of service

September 21st 1773: Corporal with the Regiment King-Infantry
October 1st 1774: Sergeant
August 13rd 1778: Sergeant of hunters
May 21st 1782: Fourier-writer (maximum rank for a commoner in a regiment of Old Mode)
May 4th 1784: Resignation
beginning 1792: Chaplain of the battalion of volunteer of the the Eure
October 1st 1792: elected official Lieutenant of the battalion (from the affected one with the Armed with North)
April 1793: Lieutenant-colonel of the 11th battalion of the Vosges
March 12th 1794: Chief of brigade of the 175e Half-Brigade of battle (from the affected one with the Armed with Sambre-and-Meuse)
May 5th 1796: Chief of Brigade of the 67e Half-Brigade of Infantry
September 1797: it is affected with the Armée with Germany
1798: affected with the Armed with Mainz
1799: Armed with the Danube
April 20th 1799: Brigadier general (named on the field of battles of Stockach, on March 26th and officialized on April 20th)
fine 1799: affected with the army of the Rhine
September 23rd 1801: put in non-activity due to wound engraves

Decorations, titles and distinction

June 14th 1804: Commander of the Legion of honor
August 1809: Gift of a silver snuffbox by Napoleon
August 1809: Fact Baron d' Empire under the title of baron d' Abaumont (title that decorated never carried)

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