Jacques MacDonald
| Jacques MacDonald | |
|---|---|
Jacques MacDonald
|
|
| Born |
17 November 1765 Sedan, France |
| Died | 25 September 1840 (aged 74) Beaulieu-sur-Loire, France |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of France French Republic French Empire Kingdom of France French Kingdom
|
| Service/branch | French Army |
| Years of service | 1785–1830 |
| Rank | Général de division |
| Battles/wars |
French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards |
Marshal of France Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honour |
| Other work | Chancellor of the Legion of Honour |
Étienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre MacDonald, 1st duke of Taranto (17 November 1765 – 25 September 1840) was a Marshal of France and military leader during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
MacDonald was born in Sedan, Ardennes, France. His father, Neil MacEachen, later MacDonald, came from a Jacobite family from Howbeg in South Uist, in the west of Scotland. He was a close relative of Flora MacDonald, who played a key role in the escape of Prince Charles Edward Stuart after the failure of the 1745 Rising.
In 1785, MacDonald joined the Irish legion raised to support the revolutionary party in the Dutch Republic against the Kingdom of Prussia. After it was disbanded, he received a commission in the regiment of Dillon. At the start of the French Revolution, the regiment of Dillon remained loyal to the King, except for MacDonald, who was in love with Mlle Jacob, whose father was an enthusiastic revolutionary. After his marriage, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Charles François Dumouriez. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Jemappes, and was promoted colonel in 1793.
He refused to desert to the Austrians with Dumouriez, and as a reward was made general of brigade, and appointed to command the leading brigade in Pichegru's invasion of the Netherlands. His knowledge of the country proved useful, and he was instrumental in the capture of the Dutch fleet by French hussars. In 1797, having been made general of division, he served first in the army of the Rhine and later in that of Italy. When he reached Italy, the treaty of Campo Formio had been signed, and Bonaparte had returned to France; but, under the direction of Berthier, MacDonald occupied Rome, of which he was made governor, and then in conjunction with Championnet he defeated General Mack, and took the Kingdom of Naples, which became known as the Parthenopaean Republic.
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