Antoine Balland
| Antoine Balland | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 August 1751 Pont-de-Beauvoisin, France |
| Died |
3 November 1821 (aged 70) Guise, Aisne, France |
| Allegiance |
 France
|
| Service/branch | Infantry |
| Years of service | 1769–1798 |
| Rank | General of Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Légion d'Honneur, 1805 |
| Other work | Mayor of Guise, 1817 |
Antoine Balland (27 August 1751 – 3 November 1821) commanded a French infantry division during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars. A former private, he was promoted to command an infantry regiment after the Battle of Jemappes. He became a general of brigade in late August 1793 and a general of division less than three weeks later. Soon afterwards, he led a division in Jean-Baptiste Jourdan's victory at Wattignies. In the spring of 1794, he led his troops at Le Cateau, Beaumont and Landrecies. By this time it was obvious that he did not have the talent to command a combat division and he was replaced by Jean Baptiste Kléber. He was not employed after June 1795 and died at Guise in 1821.
Balland was born at Pont-de-Beauvoisin on 27 August 1751. He enlisted in the Beauvoisis Regiment on 17 April 1769, which later became the 57th Line Infantry Regiment. He was promoted corporal on 17 February 1771, sergeant on 24 February 1773, sergeant major on 11 August 1781 and adjutant on 4 September 1784. He was discharged from the Beauvoisis Regiment on 1 November 1790.
Balland joined the 1st National Guard Battalion of Paris as a captain on 21 July 1791. He became the second lieutenant colonel on 16 January 1792 and first lieutenant colonel on 27 August 1792. At the Battle of Jemappes on 6 November 1792, the Right Wing Advance Guard under Auguste Marie Henri Picot de Dampierre included the 1st Paris Battalion. Balland fought at Jemappes and earned promotion to colonel of the 83rd Infantry Regiment on 8 March 1793. He assumed the rank of general of brigade on 27 August 1793 and general of division seventeen days later on 13 September 1793.
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