Victor, CLAUDE PERRIN

Victor, CLAUDE PERRIN, Duc de Belluno, and marshal of France, was born at La Marche (Vosges), 7th December 1764, and at seventeen enlisted in a regiment of artillery, and served eight years as a common soldier. He re-enlisted in 1792, and rose rapidly; for his conduct at the siege of Toulon in 1793 he was made general of brigade. He served with distinction in the Italian campaigns, especially covering himself with glory at Montebello and Marengo. Napoleon gave him the marshal's baton on the bloody field of Friedland (1807), and later the title of Duke of Belluno. From 1808 till 1812 he commanded the first corps d'armée in Spain, and lost the battles of Talavera and Barrosa. He commanded the ninth corps d'armée in the fatal Russian campaign, and covered the crossing of the Berezina. He fought at Dresden and Leipzig, lost the emperor's favour by neglecting to occupy the bridge of Montereau-sur-Yonne, and was severely wounded at Craonne. Louis XVIII. gave him the command of the second division, and to his shame the presidency of the military commission appointed to try such of his old companions in arms as had deserted to Napoleon during the 'Hundred Days.' He was minister of War from 1821 to 1823, and died at Paris, March 1, 1841. Mémoires Inédits was published in 1846.