François Watrin

François Watrin ( born January 29, 1772 in Beauvais, † November 22, 1802 in Port -au -Prince ) was a French general of division of cavalry.

Life

Inspired by the ideals of the revolution Watrin joined the army and became early an enthusiastic supporter of Napoleon.

He took part in the revolutionary wars and was able to repeatedly distinguished by bravery. In 1793 he came with the rank of Captain for the Armée du Nord and fought under the leadership of Marshal Jean- Baptiste Jourdan in Fleurus (26 June 1794).

Together with Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse he participated in the Irish expedition ( December 1796 ) part. Under the command of General Lazare Hoche, a French expeditionary force should ( 15,000 ) support the Society of United Irishmen in their struggle for independence.

When it was erected an invading army led by General Charles Leclerc d' Ostiņš to the insurgents fighting in Saint- Domingue ( Hispaniola ) to Toussaint Louverture (→ Haitian Revolution ), is also reported Watrin voluntary. In 1799 he returned to France and joined the Armée d'Italie; inter alia, He fought bravely in front of Montebello (9 June 1800) and Marengo (14 June 1800).

At the request of Napoleon Watrin returned in 1802 to Saint -Domingue back. Shortly after his arrival in Port -au -Prince, he fell ill and died there on November 22, 1802 at the age of almost 31 years.

Honors

• His name is found on the northern pier ( 6th column ) of the Arc de Triomphe on Place Charles -de- Gaulle ( Paris).