Biographies : 101
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BiographyKUTUZOV, Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev
Mikhail Kutuzov began his military service in the artillery before becoming ADC to the Prince of Holstein-Beck in 1762. He was later sent to the Crimean army as a punishment for light-hearted but ill-advised remarks made to friends about the general-in-chief. This episode persuaded him to hide his natural enthusiasm and instead focus on remaining […]
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BiographyLA MARMORA, Alfonso Ferrero, Marchese del, Italian General and Politicianb. Turin 17 November, 1804 - d. Florence 5 January, 1878
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BiographyLANGERON, Count Louis Alexandre Andrault de
Count Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron was one of many French émigrés in the Russian service. He was born in Paris on 24 January 1763, into a French noble family. His first experience of battle was in the American War of Independence. He then served at Caracas and Saint Domingo in 1782 – 1783, before […]
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BiographyLANNES, Jean‘L'un des militaires les plus distingués qu'a eus la France! Chez Lannes, le courage l'emportait d'abord sur l'esprit, mais l'esprit montait chaque jour pour se mettre en équilibre. Je l'avais pris pygmée, je l'ai perdu géant... Un des hommes au monde sur lesquels je pouvais…
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BiographyLasalle, Charles
Charles Lasalle was born in Metz on 10 May, 1775. In 1791, he became sous-lieutenant in the 24e de cavalerie but resigned in 1792 and came to Paris. There, he signed up as a volunteer in the Section des Piques, a “district” in Paris during the Revolution (each district was made up of a civil […]
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BiographyLaw de Lauriston, Jacques-Alexandre
Jacques-Alexandre Law de Lauriston was born in Pondichery (India) on 1 February, 1768. He was the grandnephew of the infamous Scotsman John Law, who was the short-lived Contrôleur Général des Finances under Philippe d'Orléans. Jacques-Alexandre's father was Jacques-François, a French General sometime Governor General of a French trading post in India and author of État politique […]
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BiographyLECLERC, Victor-Emmanuel
Fact file Born in Pontoise, 17 March 1772. Volunteer in the 2e bataillon de Seine-et-Oise, lieutenant 19 Oct., 1791 Became one of the Adjudants généraux for the Armée d’Italie in 1793 Became Chief of Staff for the Division de l’Est (La Poype) in the army sent against Toulon, 1793 Adjudant général, Chef de bataillon, on […]
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BiographyLECOURBE, Claude-Jacques'C'est un sournois, un méchant homme, dangereux, et qui est lié à nos ennemis', Napoleon, 1806 (reported in Lecestre, Lettres inédites) 'Très brave, il eut été un excellent maréchal de France; il avait reçu de la nature toutes les qualités nécessaire pour être un excellent…
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BiographyLESTOCQ, Anton Wilhelm von
Lestocq was born on 16 August, 1738, in Celle, the son of a Prussian officer of Huguenot descent. In 1757 he joined the Berlin Gensd'armes regiment as a Fahnenjunker. During the Seven Years War he took part in the battles of Zorndorf, Kunersdorf and Torgau. After distinguishing himself at Langensalza he was awarded the Pour le […]
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BiographyLIECHTENSTEIN, Jean-Joseph, Prince de
Distinguishing himself during the war against the Turks (1788-1790), he subsequently took part in the combats at La Trebbia, Novi and Hohenlinden. After the defeat at Austerlitz where he commanded the Austrian corps, he was a signatory on the Peace of Pressburg. He fought at Wagram, and after the retirement of the Archduke Charles, he […]