Jacques Louis César Alexandre Randon,1st Count Randon (25 March 1795 – 16 January 1871) was a French military and political leader, alsoMarshal of France and governor of Algeria.
He was born atGrenoble[2] inDauphiné, of aProtestant family. Later in life he converted toCatholicism, under the influence of his second wife. He was a nephew of GeneralJean-Gabriel, Count Marchand, Also a RevolutionaryAntoine-Joseph Barnave was a first cousin of his mother.
He enlisted in theFrench Army at sixteen, joined his uncle Marchand in Warsaw and was promoted to sergeant on 11 April 1812. He took part in theRussian Campaign, the taking ofMoscow and the retreat back. He then fought in Napoleon's campaigns in Germany and France, notably at the battles ofLützen,Bautzen andLeipzig.[3]
He wasMinister of War from January to October 1851, after which he was appointed Governor-General of Algerie (11 December 1851 to 31 August 1858). Although initially not in favour of thecoup of December 1851, he finally rallied theSecond French Empire. He was made a Count in 1852 (by reversion of the title of his uncle General Marchand), andMarshal of France in 1856, at the same time asCanrobert andBosquet. He served again as Minister of War from 1859 to 1867.[4]
In 1859, botanistErnest Saint-Charles Cosson publishedRandonia, amonotypic genus offlowering plant from North Africa, belonging to the familyResedaceae and was named in Jacques Louis Randon's honour.[5]
He received no command during theFranco-Prussian War in 1870, because of his high age. He was nevertheless accused to have a part of responsibility in French defeat for having neglected to prepare for it during his second ministry and for having dissuadedNapoleon III of acting in favour of Austria at the time of theBattle of Sadova in 1866.[citation needed] Modern research has shown that the latter accusation is unfounded and that, quite contrarily, Randon had advocated an immediate action against Prussia.[citation needed]
Randon died on 16 January 1871 inGeneva, leaving one surviving daughter.
The Marshal's first wife, Clotilde Périer, was a sister ofCasimir Périer, who had been President of the Council during the July Monarchy and the grandfather ofJean Casimir-Périer, President of the French Republic.[6] Marshal Randon later remarried to Zénaïde Suin.
Petit ministère of 1851 (24 January to 10 April 1851) | ||
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Cabinet of Léon Faucher (10 April - 26 October 1851) | ||
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Third cabinet of Napoleon III (2 December 1852 - 17 July 1869) | ||
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Preceded bySecond cabinet of Louis Napoleon • Followed byFourth cabinet of Napoleon III | ||
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