François Joseph Gerard - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Biography

It entered in 1787 5th (since 4th) of hussards; it was long enough in the ranks subordinates, but the wars of the Empire provided him the occasion to deploy all its talent and to rise with the first ranks. Become major of the 3rd hussards the 6 brumaire year XII, it obtained the 4 germinal following the decoration of the Légion of honor.

Colonel of the 2nd regiment of hussards the October 7th 1806, it belonged to the Large army in 1806 and 1807.

The March 17th 1807 it pushed back 1.500 Prussians, left Glatz, rejected them into the place, took 100 men and 2 pieces of ordnance to them.

Passed in Spain in 1808, it became Brigadier general the March 10th 1809, Baron of the Empire and commander of the Légion of honor the October 31st according to.

Recalled in France at the end of 1811, it made the campaigns of 1812 and 1813 with the Large army. He assisted the marshal Ney with the passage and the Bataille of Bérézina, by maintaining for one day the clouds of Cosaque S which sought to start it.

Major general the September 29th 1813, in an exit of Dresden, with the head of a brigade of cavalry, it charged the enemy vigorously, and put it in escape.

Fact captive in violation of the Capitulation of Dresden, the November 14th 1813, it returned to France only in May 1814. The September 5th 1814 the King appointed it higher commander of Landau (the 5th military division). The May 18th 1815 the Emperor entrusted the command of the 4th military division to him.

Put at the half-pay at the time of the general dismissal, in 1815, it was recalled soon, and in the years 1819 and 1820 it fulfills the functions of general inspector of cavalry. It was put at the retirement in 1824; but the Révolution of 1830 recalled it to the activity. It accepted the command of a division of cavalry to the formation of the Armée with North. It was named assistance-of-camp of Louis-Philippe Ier, then assistance-of-camp of the duke of Nemours, the September 14th 1832.

Gerard had just passed the review of a regiment of cavalry in garrison to Beauvais, when he was suddenly reached Choléra, the September 17th 1832; he succumbed the following day to the violence of the evil. Its name is registered on the Northern side of the Triumphal arch of the Star.

Military career

Colonel with the 2 {{E}} hussards: October 7th 1806 Brigadier general
: March 10th 1809 Major general
: September 29th 1813

Decorations, titles and distinctions

Commander of the Legion of honor: October 30th 1809
Baron of Empire: November 27th 1808

One of the sources of inspiration of Conan Doyle

Conan Doyle made of this famous hussard the type even of the French soldier passionately liking his country, courageous (even bold), which carries out prowesses and does not count any more its female conquests, in the Romance Exploits of the Sergeant Gerard .

Partial source

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