Pierre Meyronnet, Count Wellingerode (1772-1812)
Command Ratings
Pierre Simon Meyronnet, later titled comte de Wellingerode, began his career in the French marine as a jeune mousse and rose to officier. He served as lieutenant aboard the brig Épervier in 1802–1803, then under Jérôme Bonaparte in the Caribbean, and returned with him to the United States in 1803 before being sent to France in 1803. He delivered Jérôme’s brother’s order for his return in March 1804, and in October 1805 joined Jérôme aboard the 74‑gun ship Vétéran after Jérôme’s independent return to France in August 1806.— He accompanied Jérôme to Kassel upon the creation of the Kingdom of Westphalia in August 1807 and was rapidly promoted to colonel, Oberhofmarschall (Grand maréchal de la Cour), and conseiller d’État. In December 1807 he received the seigneurie of Wellingerode as a vacant fief and was elevated to the dignity of comte de Wellingerode on 12 June 1808; his comital title of the Empire was confirmed by Napoleon on 23 April 1812.— With the outbreak of war in 1809, he requested and was granted command of the newly raised 5e régiment d’infanterie in Magdeburg. During the assault on Halberstadt by the Schwarze Schar on 29 July 1809 he resisted until capture. He was taken to England by Duke Friedrich Wilhelm. Through negotiation by King Jérôme he was exchanged and returned to Kassel in April 1810, where he was made général de brigade and commandant général (Kommandeur) of the Gardens, and decorated as commandeur of the Ordre de la Couronne de Westphalie.— In the night of 24 November 1811 a major conflagration destroyed the Stadtschloss in Kassel. He had been warned of the smell of smoke but dismissed concerns. The fire, long smouldering, broke out and destroyed most of the palace.— At the outbreak of the Russian campaign in 1812 he proceeded with Jérôme and the Westphalian army to Russia as commander of the 1ère brigade of the 24e division of the 8e corps, part of the Grande Armée; he soon returned with Jérôme to Kassel when Jérôme declined to advance without his court.— He fell critically ill and travelled from Kassel to Paris, where he died on 10 September 1812.—
Sources
X (1800 – Col.) 09 North Germany – L (to those pesky Brunswickers)