Étienne Maurice Gérard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of France | |
| In office 18 July 1834 – 10 November 1834 | |
| Monarch | Louis Philippe I |
| Preceded by | Jean-de-Dieu Soult |
| Succeeded by | Hugues-Bernard Maret |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1773-04-04)4 April 1773 |
| Died | 17 April 1852(1852-04-17) (aged 79) |
| Awards | Legion of Honor (Grand Cross) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  First French Republic First French Empire Kingdom of France |
| Rank | Marshal of France |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars Belgian Revolution |
Étienne Maurice Gérard, 1stComte Gérard (French:[etjɛnmɔʁisʒeʁaʁ]; 4 April 1773 – 17 April 1852) was a French general and statesman. He served under a succession of French governments including theancien regime monarchy, the Revolutionary governments, the Restorations, theJuly Monarchy, theFirst andSecond Republics, and theFirst Empire (and arguably theSecond),[1] becoming prime minister briefly in 1834. Gérard established a reputation as a natural soldier with a talent for organization matched with great courage. He was listed byNapoleon as one of his best commanders.
Born as the son of a royal bailiff atDamvillers, inLorraine, Gérard received a solid education and attended college inMetz but joined abattalion of volunteers in 1791 at the age of eighteen, and served in thecampaigns of 1792–1793 under GeneralsCharles François Dumouriez andJean-Baptiste Jourdan. He first saw real action fighting at the defiles of Argonne and then atJemappes where his conspicuous bravery earned him promotion to second lieutenant and he was promoted again following his actions atNeerwinden. In the summer of 1794, Gérard joined the 71st demi-brigade and fought at theBattle of Fleurus and then at the capture ofCharleroi andAldenhoven where he rushed through enemy lines to establish a rope across the river to allow the troops to cross theRoer. In 1795, he servedJean-Baptiste Bernadotte asaide-de-camp and the two formed a close friendship. Gérard accompanied Bernadotte on his diplomatic mission toVienna and displayed courage in repelling a riot against the French embassy. Gérard also followed Bernadotte to Italy where he served underNapoleon's command for the first time and was promoted tocaptain for his actions atValvasone. In 1799 he fought in Switzerland under the command ofAndré Masséna and he was promotedchef d'escadron, and in 1800colonel.[1]
As theGrande Armée marched to war in 1805, Gérard served as first aide-de-camp to Bernadotte and greatly distinguished himself at the battle ofAusterlitz where he charged at the head of the French squadrons against theRussian Imperial Guard and was wounded by grapeshot to the thigh. During the war against Prussia in 1806, Gérard was at theBattle of Jena where he led a regiment ofHussars in an attack that overthrew the opposing Prussian cavalry and took many prisoners. He then joined in the pursuit toErfurt, before returning to Bernadotte and fighting atSchleiz,Halle, andLübeck. For his performance in this campaign, Gérard was madeBrigadier General in November 1806. Gérard was next given command of a brigade in VII Corps which was engaged atMohrungen andEylau in early 1807. A month after Eylau, he was transferred to command of 2nd brigade in I Corps which took part in the campaign that June and saw action atGuttstadt-Deppen. When theWar of the Fifth Coalition broke out, Gérard was madechief of staff in Bernadotte's IX Corps and took command of the Saxon cavalry at thebattle of Wagram. He was so praised for his gallant conduct in the fighting that he was created abaron of theFirst French Empire.[1]
In theSpanish campaign of 1810 and 1811, Gérard gained special distinction at theBattle of Fuentes de Oñoro; and in theexpedition to Russia he fought at thebattle of Smolensk and thebattle of Valutino, and displayed such bravery and ability in thebattle of Borodino that he was madegénéral de division. He won further distinction in the disastrousretreat from Moscow, fighting atMaloyaroslavets,Krasnoi and with the rearguard atBerezina and Kowno.[1]
In thecampaign of 1813, in command of adivision, he took part in thebattle of Lützen and at thebattle of Bautzen where he was placed in front of theSpree, so as to link up with corps of the extreme right. After ferocious combat, this corps was forced to retreat.Macdonald, judging that this development compromised his vanguard commanded by Gérard, sent him the order to retreat "on the contrary" replied Gérard to the bearer of the order, "instead of withdrawing, we must advance and I will answer for the success of the day". He then gave orders to attack and the positions were retaken. Gérard continued to serve with Macdonald during his independent operations, atGoldberg he repeated what he had done at Bautzen, ignoring orders to retreat and launching an assault that put the enemy to rout. He then fought at thebattle of Leipzig (in which he commanded the XI Corps) where he was gravely wounded. After the battle of Bautzen, he was created byNapoleon acount of the Empire.In theCampaign in north-east France (1814), he proved to be one of Napoleon's most capable and energetic subordinates. Gérard preparedPhalsbourg for defense then took command of a division in II Corps which fought atBrienne and thenLa Rothière where Gérard demonstrated superb defensive skill by repelling a series of attacks from numerically superior coalition forces on the French right flank. He won still greater distinction atMormant andMontereau, in which he took over command of II Corps fromMarshal Victor. During the final phase of the campaign, Gérard continued to distinguish himself, winning at the bridge of Guillotière, putting himself in the thick of the action at a skirmish around Vendeuvre and fighting with his corps atSaint-Dizier.
After the firstBourbon Restoration, he was named by KingLouis XVIII Grand Cross of theLegion of Honor andchevalier of St Louis.[1]
During theHundred Days, as preparations for theWaterloo campaign were underway Gérard vouched for the loyalty of GeneralBourmont. Bourmont had previously been an ardent royalist and was suspected of being a spy, Bourmont would latterhand Napoleons orders to GeneralBlücher. Napoleon made Gérard aPeer of France and placed him in command of the IV Corps of the Army of the North. In this capacity Gérard took a brilliant part in thebattle of Ligny, and on the morning of 18 June he was foremost in advisingMarshal Grouchy to march to the sound of the guns to aid the emperor atWaterloo. Having failed in this he took part in thebattle of Wavre.[1]
Gérard retired toBrussels after the fall of Napoleon, and did not return to France until 1817. He sat as a member of the Restoration'sChamber of Deputies in 1822–1824, and was re-elected in 1827.[1]
Serving as a voice of moderation in the midst of political chaos, Gérard played an active role during theJuly Revolution of 1830, after which he was appointed minister of war and named aMarshal of France. On account of his health he resigned the office ofWar Minister in the following October.[1]
However, in 1831 he took the command of the Northern Army, and was successful in forcing the army of theNetherlands to withdraw fromBelgium (seeBelgian Revolution). In 1832 he commanded the besieging army in the famoussiege of the citadel ofAntwerp.[1] Gérard was awarded a special ceremonial sword by the grateful Belgians in recognition of his triumph.
He was again chosen war minister in July 1834,[1] and served asPrime Minister of theJuly Monarchy,[2] but resigned in the following October. In 1836 he was named grand chancellor of theLegion of Honour in succession toMarshal Mortier, and in 1838 commander of theNational Guards of theSeinedépartement, an office which he held until 1842. He became asenator of theSecond Empire in 1852 (before it was formally instituted), and died in the same year, aged 79.[1]
Gérard married Rosemonde de Valence in 1816 and the couple had three children. Their granddaughter wasRosemonde Gérard.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gérard, Étienne Maurice".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 764.| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of France 1834 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | French minister of War 31 July 1830 – 17 November 1830 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | French minister of War 18 July 1834 – 10 November 1834 | Succeeded by |
Paris Municipal Commission Ministry of 1830 (31 July 1830 to 1 August 1830) | ||
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Preceded by:Ministry of Casimir de Rochechouart de Mortemart − Followed byFrench Provisional Ministry of 1830 | ||
French Provisional Ministry of 1830 (1 August 1830 to 11 August 1830) | ||
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First ministry of Louis-Philippe (11 August 1830 to 2 November 1830) | ||
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Head of state: KingLouis Philippe I | ||
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Cabinet of Jacques Laffitte (2 November 1830 to 13 March 1831) | ||
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Cabinet of Étienne Maurice, comte Gérard (18 July 1834 to 10 November 1834) | ||
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Head of state: KingLouis Philippe I | ||
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