François Macquard or François Macquart (18 October 1738 – 29 November 1801) joined the French royal army as an infantryman, fought in the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

, and rose slowly from the ranks to become an officer in the 1780s. While serving in Italy during the

French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted French First Republic, France against Ki ...

, he became a

general officer A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

. In the Italian campaign of 1796, he fought in several actions under the orders of

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

Early career

Macquard joined the French royal army in 1755 as a foot soldier. Wounded four times at the Battle of Minden on 1 August 1759, he later entered the cavalry in a

dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat w ...

regiment. In 1785 he received his officer's commission. During the

he served in Army of Italy beginning in 1792 and gained rapid promotion. In 1794 he became a

general of brigade Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...

and in 1795 he rose to

general of division Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corp ...

after winning an action at Saorge (Saorgio).

Under Bonaparte

When Bonaparte took over command of the army, Macquard led a small 3,700-man division that guarded the Col de Tende together with

Pierre Dominique Garnier Pierre Dominique Garnier, born 19 December 1756 – died 11 May 1827, was a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. He enlisted in the French royal army in 1773 and served in the French West Indies. At the outbr ...

's 3,400-strong division. His command included the brigades of Jean David and

Claude Dallemagne Claude Dallemagne (8 November 1754, Peyrieu, Ain – 12 June 1813) started his career in the French army under the Bourbons, fought in the American Revolutionary War, rose in rank to become a general officer during the French Revolutionary W ...

. During the Montenotte Campaign which ended with the

Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont The Kingdom of Sardinia,The name of the state was originally Latin: , or when the kingdom was still considered to include Corsica. In Italian it is , in French , in Sardinian , and in Piedmontese . also referred to as the Kingdom of Savoy-S ...

suing for peace, Macquard's division was not engaged. After this event, Bonaparte brought Dallemagne's brigade to the front. Macquard's division is listed in the orders of battle for the July 1796 Siege of Mantua. He led a 2,700-strong infantry reserve during the third Austrian relief of Mantua. His reserve was present at the Second Battle of Bassano on 6 November. During the Battle of Arcola his 3,000-man force held Verona and neutralized Austrian General Jozsef Alvinczi's advance guard. Macquard retired from the army in 1797 and died in 1801. On 14 August 1796, Bonaparte tersely summed up his qualities, "Brave man, no talent, lively."Boycott-Brown, p 412

Footnotes

References

Printed materials

* Boycott-Brown, Martin. ''The Road to Rivoli.'' London: Cassell & Co., 2001. * Chandler, David. ''The Campaigns of Napoleon.'' New York: Macmillan, 1966. * Chandler, David. ''Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars.'' New York: Macmillan, 1979. * * Smith, Digby. ''The Napoleonic Wars Data Book.'' London: Greenhill, 1998. {{DEFAULTSORT:Macquard, Francois 1738 births 1801 deaths French generals Military leaders of the French Revolutionary Wars French military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars French Republican military leaders of the French Revolutionary Wars