Charles Le Gendre
| Charles William Joseph Émile Le Gendre | |
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| Born | August 26, 1830 Oullins, France |
| Died | September 1, 1899 (aged 69) Seoul, Korea |
| Cause of death | Apoplexy |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Royal College of Reims, University of Paris |
| Occupation | General and diplomat |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Victoria Mulock (Ito Ikeda) |
Charles William (Guillaum) Joseph Émile Le Gendre (August 26, 1830 – September 1, 1899) was a French-born American general and diplomat, who served as advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan from 1872 to 1875 and as advisor to Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire from 1890 to 1899.
Le Gendre was born in Oullins, France the son of Jean-François Legendre-Héral, a noteworthy painter, sculptor, and professor at the L'Ecole de Beaux-Arts. Le Gendre was educated at the Royal College of Reims, but he eventually graduated from the University of Paris. At the age of 24, he married Clara Victoria Mulock, daughter of a well-known New York lawyer, in Brussels. Soon after their marriage, Le Gendre moved to the United States and became a naturalized citizen.
With the outbreak of the American Civil War in the United States in 1861, Le Gendre helped recruit the 51st New York Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned a major of that regiment on October 29, 1861. Le Gendre participated in combat in North Carolina, and was present at the capture of Roanoke Island in 1862. However, he was badly wounded at the Battle of New Bern, North Carolina on March 14, 1862, where he was cited for his courage.
Despite his injuries, Le Gendre continued with the Army and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 20, 1862. In 1863, he was attached to the IX Corps, with which he fought in numerous campaigns. He was promoted to colonel on March 14, 1863 and assumed command of the 51st Regiment under IX Corps and participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg. At the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia on May 6, 1864, while serving under General Ulysses S. Grant, Le Gendre was again severely injured, this time shot in the face with the bullet taking off his nose and left eye. Although still hospitalized in Annapolis, Maryland, he helped organize the city's defenses against the last Confederate raid on the city. He was later transferred to New York, where he helped recruit for the IX Corps. He was honorably discharged on October 4, 1864 and was further given the brevet rank of brigadier general on March 13, 1865.
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