Pierre Clément de Champeaux

Pierre Clément de Champeaux was born on 24 May 1767 in Courban, Côte‑d’Or. He entered service as a cadet gentilhomme at the école royale militaire in Paris in 1782, and was commissioned sous‑lieutenant in the Régiment de chasseurs des Cévennes on 1 August 1785. He transferred to the Régiment de chasseurs à cheval de Bretagne, being promoted to lieutenant on 16 January 1788. He served as commandant de la compagnie des guides in the armée du Rhin from 2 June 1792, was promoted Capitaine on 15 September 1792, and chef d’escadron of the 10e chasseurs à cheval on 14 October 1792. He was elevated to chef de brigade on 8 March 1793 but was suspended by representatives du peuple Saint‑Just and Le Bas as a noble on 5 November 1793 and interned at Auxerre; he was reinstated by Aubert du Bayet on 7 April 1795. He was called by the Directoire to command the 7e bis Régiment de hussards on 27 March 1797, but did not assume those functions; instead, on the same date he was placed at the disposal of General Bonaparte of the armée d’Italie, who appointed him commander of that régiment. He took command of the 22e gendarmerie at Grenoble on 1 January 1799, and on 18 February 1800 he assumed command of the gendarmerie du quartier général of the armée de réserve. He was promoted général de Brigade on 15 May 1800. He commanded the 1er and 8e dragons during the Ulm and Marengo campaign; at the Battle of Marengo on 14 June 1800 he led his brigade in a charge against Austrian forces on the army’s right flank, was struck in the chest and wounded, and was transported to Milan, where he died of his wounds on 28 July 1800.

Sources

• Wikipedia (French): Pierre Clément de Champeaux
• Napoleon‑series.org: General Pierre Clément de Champeaux
• Napoleon‑series.org: Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789‑1814 – Champeaux