Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval | |
| Born | 15 September 1715 |
| Died | 9 May 1789(1789-05-09) (aged 73) Paris, Kingdom of France |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Service years | 1732–1789 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards |  Military Order of Maria Theresa Order of Saint Louis |
Lieutenant GeneralJean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval (French pronunciation:[ʒɑ̃batistvakɛtdəɡʁiboval]; 15 September 1715 – 9 May 1789) was a Frenchartilleryofficer and engineer who revolutionised the Frenchcannon, creating a new production system that allowed for lighter, more uniform guns without sacrificing range. HisGribeauval system superseded thede Vallière system. These guns proved essential to French military victories during theNapoleonic Wars. Gribeauval is credited as the earliest known advocate for the interchangeability of gun parts. He is thus one of the principal influences on the later development (over many decades by many people) ofinterchangeable manufacture.[1]
Jean-Baptiste was born inAmiens, the son of a magistrate. He entered the French royal artillery in 1732 as a volunteer, and became an officer in 1735.[2] For nearly twenty years regimental duty and scientific work occupied him, and in 1752 he became captain of a company ofminers.[3] In 1755, he was employed in a military mission inPrussia.[3][4]
In 1757, being then alieutenant colonel, he was lent to theAustrian army on the outbreak of theSeven Years' War, and established the Austriansapper corps.[5] He led the sapping operations at theSiege of Glatz and the defence of Schweidnitz.[6][7] At Schweidnitz, his 1748 design of fortification gun was tested and significantly improved by Master Carpenter Richter.[8]
In 1762, he reported back to the Paris authorities on the Austrian artillery system compared with the existing Frenchde Vallière guns.[9][10] While with the Austrian army he also worked on the continued development of mining in siegecraft.
The empressMaria Theresa rewarded him for his work with the rank ofFeldmarschallleutnant and the Grand Cross of theMilitary Order of Maria Theresa.[11][12] On his return to France he was mademaréchal de camp (major general), in 1764 Inspector of artillery, and in 1765lieutenant général and commander of theOrder of Saint Louis.[13][14]
Subsequently, he was for some years in disfavour at court. However, he became first inspector of artillery in 1776, in which year also he received the grand cross of the St Louis Order. He was now able to carry out the reforms in the artillery arm which are his chief title to fame. TheTable des constructions des principaux attirails de l'artillerie ... de M. de Gribeauval covers all the French artillery equipment in detail. He was also responsible for therèglement for the French artillery issued in 1776.[14] Although much of the work is not directly attributable to Gribeauval, these systems of organisation and uniformity in ordnance have been calledle système Gribeauval.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gribeauval, Jean Baptiste de".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 592–593.