Frédéric Henri Walther

Frédéric -Henri Walther, sometimes Frédéric Henri Walther ( born June 20, 1761 Obenheim, † November 24, 1813 in Cusel ) was a French general of division of cavalry.

Life

Walther was the son of the Protestant pastor Georges Henri Walther and his wife Marie Elisabeth Chatel. The scientist Frédéric and Georges Cuvier were his cousins.

1781 Walther volunteered for the army and could be distinguished there soon; on May 10, 1792, he was promoted to Lieutenant. Under command of General André Masséna he fought at Neerwinden (18 March 1793), at Winterthur (May 27, 1799) and in the first ( 4 / June 7, 1799 ) and Second Battle of Zurich ( 25-26. September 1799).

After subsequent promotions Walther led his own command under Marshal Michel Ney and fought at Ostrach (21 March 1799), at Stockach (25 March 1799) and at Meßkirch (5 May 1800).

Walther married on April 12, 1802 Salome -Louise Coulman (* 1782 ) and had with her two daughters.

In the rank of General Walther took part in the battles of Ulm ( 16./19. October 1805 ) and at Austerlitz (2 December 1805) and was severely wounded in both battles. After his recovery he was, after a military transport, even to the chamberlain of Napoleon appointed.

In the battle of Eylau Prussian ( 7/8, 1807) Walther led by Marshal Joachim Murat own command. After further Commendations Walther took over under Marshal Jean -Baptiste Bessières a command of the cavalry of the Imperial Guard and fought bravely among others of Wagram ( 5 / July 6, 1809 ). ( August. 26-27, 1813) Even in the battles with the Großgörschen (2 May 1813), Dresden, Teplice (17 September 1813) Walther was also able to distinguish. The same applies to the battles before Leipzig ( 16./19. October 1813 ) and Hanau ( 30-31. October 1813 ). In these years, Walther was parallel also responsible for the Honor Guard ( cavalry) Napoleon to his actual tasks in the bar.

Walther suffered in late November 1813 near Cusel a breakdown. In the cause of death, some sources speak of exhaustion (caused by the late effects of his wounds ), others call typhoid as a cause. Walther died at the age of 52 years on 24 November 1813 in Cusel. A delegation of the Imperial Guard brought his body only in the Metz Cathedral and later returned to Paris. He found his final resting place in the Cimetière Père Lachaise ( 8th Division ). Later his body was reburied and is now in the pantheon; his heart remained in his grave at the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Honors

• Commander of the Legion of Honor
• 1806 Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor
• 1806 Comte de l'Empire
• 1806 Ordre de la couronne de fer
• His name is found on the east pillars ( 16 column) of the Arc de Triomphe on Place Charles -de- Gaulle ( Paris).
• In Obenheim ( Place du Général de Gaulle) a monument to him was erected in honor.