François Jean Baptiste Quesnel
Jean Baptiste François Quesnel ( born January 18, 1765 in Saint- Germain -en- Laye, † April 8, 1819 in Paris) was a French general of division.
Life
At age 17, Quesnel became effective on July 18, 1782 as a cadet in the royal army. He could be distinguished by bravery and was soon promoted: Carporal (18 September 1783), Sergent (10 October 1784) and the 7th July 1786, he worked as a blacksmith.
Inspired by the ideals of the revolution, he remained in the army and was promoted after a few campaigns on December 26, 1793 to the general. During this time was Quesnel et al in the Pyrenees. Along with Jacques François Dugommier and André de la Barre, he fought at Le Boulou (30 April 1794) and Le Perthus (→ Fort de Bellegarde). In the suppression of the Vendée uprising Quesnel was also involved.
After the coup (4 September 1797) Quesnel was suspected to act as a spreader King against Napoleon and the state. Against him spoke his marriage to a nobleman. Only when the generals Charles Pierre François Augereau and Louis Lemoine vouched for him, Quesnel could stay in office.
1799 Quesnel fought under the command of General Paul Grenier in Italy. He participated in the battles against Verona (26 March 1799), Magnano (5 April 1799) and at the Adda ( 25./27. April 1799 ). For his bravery in Novi (August 15, 1799) and Marengo (July 14 1800) he was awarded.
1807 came Quesnel to the staff of General Andoche Junot and helped enforce Napoleon's interests in Spain. He was involved in the suppression of the uprising in Madrid (2 May 1808) and fought at La Coruña (16 January 1809). Under the leadership of Marshal Nicolas Jean -de- Dieu Soult he fought Oporto (12 May 1809) and was at the siege of Figueres ( → Castell de Sant Ferran ) involved.
When Napoleon 1813 Eugène de Beauharnais sent to Italy, Quesnel took on new tasks in bar Général Jean -Antoine Verdier. With its own command he fought bravely at Feistritzwerke (6 September 1813), at Bassano del Grappa and Caldiero (15 November 1813).
After Arcis- sur -Aube ( 20-21. March 1814 ) Quesnel transferred to the staff of Napoleon and also took part in the battle of Paris (30 March 1814). After the abdication of Napoleon had (→ Treaty of Fontainebleau ) Quesnel switched sides and supported King Louis XVIII .. When Napoleon left the island of Elba and the " rule of the Hundred Days " began to Quesnel joined immediately to the Emperor. In Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet's staff, he served in the Armée des Alpes ( Alps army).
After the battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815) Quesnel returned to France. On September 4 of that year he was adopted into retirement and he settled in Paris. He tried to establish itself politically and also continued to maintain the loyalty of Napoleon. Beginning of April 1819 he was found drowned in the Seine. Since the corpse there were also some valuables, lock you out of murder and robbery and suspicion soon fell on a politically motivated act; but a possible suicide could not be ruled out. Evidence could be until now none of these theories.