Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte d'Erlon
| Jean-Baptiste Drouet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
29 July 1765 Reims |
| Died | 25 January 1844 (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |
 France
|
| Service/branch | French army |
| Years of service | 1782–1843 |
| Rank | Marshal of France |
| Battles/wars |
French Revolutionary Wars
War of the Third Coalition
War of the Fourth Coalition War of the Fifth Coalition Peninsular War War of the Seventh Coalition
|
| Awards | Officer of the Legion of Honour |
French Revolutionary Wars
War of the Third Coalition
War of the Fourth Coalition
War of the Fifth Coalition
Peninsular War
War of the Seventh Coalition
Jean-Baptiste Drouet, comte d'Erlon (29 July 1765 – 25 January 1844) was a marshal of France and a soldier in Napoleon's Army. D'Erlon notably commanded the I Corps of the Armée du Nord at the battle of Waterloo.
D'Erlon was born in Reims on 29 July 1765. His father and grandfather were carpenters, and he trained to be a locksmith.
D'Erlon entered the army as a private soldier in 1782, was discharged after five years’ service and re-entered it in 1792. In 1792 he served as a corporal in the pre-revolutionary army, being elected to captain the following year.
From 1794 to 1796 he was aide-de-camp to General Lefebvre. In 1799 he was promoted to brigadier general, and fought under André Masséna in Switzerland. The same year he distinguished himself at the Second Battle of Zurich.
He continued his service in many battles of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, including Hohenlinden in 1800 (in which he was wounded), the Hanover region (earning him promotion to Major General in 1803).
As a general of division he took part in Napoleon’s campaigns of 1805 and 1806. At the Austerlitz in 1805, his division played a pivotal role, and he rendered excellent service Jena in 1806.
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