Louis Fursy Henri Compère (16 January 1768 – 27 March 1833) was a French general of artillery in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Compère was born in

Péronne, Somme Péronne () is a commune of the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. It is close to where the 1916, first 1918 and second 1918 Battles of the Somme took place during the First World War. The Museum of the Great War (know ...

. In 1794, he was promoted to ''chef de brigade'', the equivalent of colonel. On 1 May 1794, he was promoted to

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 ...

. He was part of the Army of the Danube crossing into the southwest German states in 1799, and participated in the

Battle of Ostrach The Battle of Ostrach, also called the Battle by Ostrach, occurred on 20–21 March 1799. It was the first non-Italy-based battle of the War of the Second Coalition. The battle resulted in the victory of the Austrian forces, under the command of ...

and the Battle of Stockach. He was the brother of the General Claude Antoine Compère (1774–1812).

Career

He fought at the Battle of Verona on 18 October 1805 where his brigade of

Gaspard Amédée Gardanne Gaspard Amédée Gardanne (24 April 1758- 14 August 1807) was a French general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Biography Born at Solliès-Pont, he joined the French royal army in 1779. After the French Revolution he joined a volunteer unit as ...

's division supported the initial attack of

André Masséna André Masséna, Prince of Essling, Duke of Rivoli (born Andrea Massena; 6 May 1758 – 4 April 1817) was a French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.Donald D. Horward, ed., trans, annotated, The Fre ...

's converged ''voltiguers''. Later his soldiers formed squares to drive off a counterattack by Austrian hussars. He also led his troops at the Battle of Caldiero on 29 to 31 October in the same year. He commanded one of

Jean Reynier Jean Louis Ebénézer Reynier (14 January 1771 – 27 February 1814) was a Swiss- French military officer who served in the French Army under the First Republic and the First Empire. He rose in rank to become a general during the French Revolu ...

's brigades at the

Battle of Maida The Battle of Maida, fought on 4 July 1806 was a battle between the British expeditionary force and a French force outside the town of Maida in Calabria, Italy during the Napoleonic Wars. John Stuart led 5,236 Anglo-Sicilian troops to victory ...

on 4 July 1806. He personally led the 1st Light Infantry Regiment in an attack against the British. Hit by a bullet, he continued to urge his troops forward. Showing incredible bravery, he rode literally among the enemy infantry where he was finally captured.Schneid, 53 He was promoted 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 co ...

on 1 March 1807.

Napoleon 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 ...

awarded him the Commander's Cross of the Legion of Honor.

Notes

References

* Schneid, Frederick C. ''Napoleon's Italian Campaigns: 1805-1815''. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers, 2002. * Smith, Digby. ''The Napoleonic Wars Data Book.'' London: Greenhill Books, 1998. 1786 births 1833 deaths People from Somme (department) Generals of the First French Empire French Republican military leaders of the French Revolutionary Wars {{France-mil-bio-stub