Junot

Junot, ANDOCHE, Duc d'Abrantès, one of the great Napoleon's generals, was born October 23, 1771, at Bussy-le-Grand, in Côte-d'Or, entered the army as a volunteer in 1792, and distinguished himself in the early wars of the republic. His courage at Toulon caught the eye of Napoleon, and he carried him with him to Egypt as adjutant. At Nazareth he covered himself with glory by putting to flight as many as 10,000 Turks with but 300 horse. In 1804 he was made governor of Paris, and, after a short stay as ambassador in Lisbon, was appointed in 1807 to the command of the army for the invasion of Portugal. In a short time by his rapidity and skill he made himself master of all the strong places in the kingdom. For his brilliant success he was created Duc d'Abrantès, and appointed governor of Portugal; but he squandered the fruits of his victory by his absurd prodigality, and was ere long so severely defeated by Wellington at Vimiera that he was obliged to conclude a convention at Cintra and retire from Portugal. He subsequently served in Germany and Russia, and was made one of the scapegoats for the great Russian disaster, and sent to govern Illyria. This, added to the effect of former wounds in the head, brought on mental derangement. He was taken to his father's house at Montbard, near Dijon, and, two hours after his arrival, precipitated himself from a window, July 22, 1813, fracturing his thigh-bone. Amputation was performed, but Junot frantically tore off the bandages, and died seven days afterwards.—His wife, LAURETTE DE SAINT-MARTIN-PERMON (1784-1838), the accomplished and recklessly extravagant Duchesse d'Abrantès, gained a reputation in the literary world by her Mémoires (18 vols. 1831-35), and by several minor works.