Pierre François Xavier Boyer

Pierre François Xavier Boyer
Pierre François Xavier Boyer
Born	7 September 1772 (1772-09-07) Belfort, France
Died	11 July 1851 (1851-07-12) (aged 78) Lardy, Essonne, France
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	Infantry, Cavalry
Years of service	1792–1824 c. 1825–1828 1830–1839
Rank	General of Division
Battles/wars	War of the First Coalition War of the Second Coalition Egypt invasion (1798–1801) Haitian Revolution (1802) War of the Fourth Coalition Battle of Jena (1806) Battle of Pultusk (1806) Battle of Friedland (1807) War of the Fifth Coalition Battle of Wagram (1809) Peninsular War Battle of Sobral (1810) Battle of Salamanca (1812) Battle of Venta del Pozo (1812) Battle of Vitoria (1813) Battle of Nivelle (1813) Battle of the Nive (1813) War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Mormant (1814) Battle of Craonne (1814) Battle of Laon (1814) Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube (1814) French conquest of Algeria (1831)
Awards	Order of Saint-Louis, 1814 Légion d'Honneur, GC 1835
Other work	Baron of the Empire, 1812

Pierre François Xavier Boyer (7 September 1772 – 11 July 1851) became a French division commander during the Napoleonic Wars. He joined a volunteer regiment in 1792. He fought in the Italian campaign of 1796 and participated in the French invasion of Egypt in 1798. He became a general of brigade in 1801 and took part in the Expedition to Saint-Domingue in 1802. While sailing back to France he was captured by the British. After being exchanged, he fought at Jena and Pultusk in 1806, Friedland in 1807 and Wagram in 1809. Transferred to Spain, Boyer led a dragoon division at Salamanca and Battle of Venta del Pozo in 1812 and Vitoria in 1813. He earned the nickname "Pedro the Cruel" for brutal actions against Spanish partisans. He led an infantry division at the Nivelle and the Nive in late 1813. His division was transferred to the fighting near Paris and he was promoted general of division in February 1814. He led his troops at Mormant, Craonne, Laon and Arcis-sur-Aube.

Because Boyer rallied to Napoleon during the Hundred Days, he was compelled to flee to Germany for a short time. After he was retired in 1824, he helped train the army of Muhammad Ali of Egypt. Restored to active service after the July Revolution of 1830, he was placed in command of Oran during the French conquest of Algeria. His superior complained about his harshness to the local people, but Boyer was not relieved until 1833. He retired from active service in 1839 and died in 1851. BOYER is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 7.