Gaspard Gourgaud French lieutenant general, adjutant to Napoleon Date of Birth: 14.11.1783 Country: France

Content:

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Career
3. Campaigns under Napoleon:
4. Iberian and Austrian Fronts:
5. Napoleon's Adjutant:
6. Russian Campaign:
7. Later Campaigns and Honors
8. Defense of France:
9. After Napoleon's Downfall
10. Battle of Waterloo:
11. Life after Waterloo
12. Memoirs and Publications:
13. Later Military Service:
14. Napoleon's Exhumation:
15. Final Years:

Early Life and Education

Born on November 14, 1783, in Versailles, Gaspard Gourgaud was the son of a court musician to King Louis XVI. He initially pursued his education at the École Polytechnique in Paris before transferring to the École d'Artillerie de Châlons in 1799.

Military Career

Beginning and Rise:

In 1802, Gourgaud was commissioned as a lieutenant and assigned to the 6th Horse Artillery Regiment. In 1804, he became an aide-de-camp to General Joseph Fouché.

Campaigns under Napoleon:

Gourgaud distinguished himself in the 1805 campaign against Austria, notably at Ulm, Vienna, and Austerlitz, where he was wounded. In the 1806-1807 campaign in Prussia, he participated in key battles such as Jena, Prenzlau, and Friedland.

Iberian and Austrian Fronts:

Gourgaud fought in the Siege of Zaragoza in Spain and then returned to Austria in 1809, fighting at Abensberg, Eckmühl, Essling, and Wagram.

Napoleon's Adjutant:

In 1811, Gourgaud became Napoleon's personal aide-de-camp and remained with him throughout his subsequent campaigns.

Russian Campaign:

Gourgaud played a crucial role in the 1812 Russian campaign. He was wounded at Smolensk and distinguished himself at Borodino. Upon occupying Moscow, Napoleon entrusted Gourgaud with investigating the Kremlin, where he discovered and salvaged vast gunpowder reserves, earning him a baronial title.

Later Campaigns and Honors

War of the Sixth Coalition:

In 1813, Gourgaud earned the Officer's Cross of the Legion of Honor for his service at Dresden. He fought at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig and Hanau.

Defense of France:

In 1814, Gourgaud defended France against invading coalition forces. At Brienne, he saved Napoleon's life by killing a Cossack. He was promoted to brigadier general for his actions.

After Napoleon's Downfall

Exile and Return:

Following Napoleon's exile, Gourgaud was also banished from France. He only returned with his emperor during the Hundred Days.

Battle of Waterloo:

Gourgaud served as one of Napoleon's aides at Waterloo and received orders to fire the last shots of the battle.

Life after Waterloo

Napoleon's Exile:

Gourgaud followed Napoleon to Saint Helena, where he remained for three years.

Memoirs and Publications:

Upon returning to Europe, Gourgaud published memoirs of his campaigns and edited Napoleon's notes from Saint Helena.

Later Military Service:

In 1830, Gourgaud rejoined the military as head of Parisian artillery. He became a royal aide-de-camp in 1832 and a lieutenant general in 1835. He held various high-ranking positions in the artillery.

Napoleon's Exhumation:

In 1840, Gourgaud was tasked by King Louis-Philippe to exhume Napoleon's remains from Saint Helena and transport them back to France.

Final Years:

Gourgaud was elevated to the peerage of France in 1841. He died on July 25, 1852, in Paris.

General

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