Jean-Louis-Brigitte was born in 1769 and served as a cavalryman in the Dragons de la Reine in 1787. A brilliant horseman, he went on to serve under Dumouriez in the Alps and distinguished himself at Mont-Cenis. He was then promoted to général de brigade in 1799, and fought under Jourdan and then Moreau. He took part in the battles at Moesskirch and Hohenlinden (1800) but only re-entered active service again in 1805, when he was made général de division and fought at Caldiero under Masséna (30 October, 1805). In 1806, he fought in Naples and in 1807, he participated in the siege of Danzig. He was later wounded at Heilsberg. In 1808, he was made Comte de l'Empire and a year later took command of the third division of cuirassiers, under Lannes. During the Battle of Essling he was mortally wounded and died on the Lobau. Despite his skill as a horseman, his men were reluctant to serve under him due to the belief that he was unlucky.
Source: Dictionnaire Napoléon (tr. & ed., with permission, H.D.W.)