Kléber

Kléber, JEAN BAPTISTE, a distinguished French soldier, born in March 1753 at Strasburg, where his father was a builder. He was destined for an architect, but his opportune assistance in a Paris tavern brawl to two young German nobles obtained him a nomination to the military school of Munich, and afterwards a commission in the Austrian army. This, however, he resigned after a few years, and returned to France to become inspector of public buildings at Belfort. In 1792 he enlisted in the Haut-Rhin volunteers, and rapidly rose in rank, becoming general of brigade in 1793. As such he commanded in the Vendean war, but was recalled for advocating more lenient measures. Next year, as general of division in the northern army under Jourdan, he led the left wing at Fleurus, and captured Maestricht; and in June 1796 he gained the brilliant victory of Altenkirchen over the Prince of Würtemberg. He accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt as a general of division, was dangerously wounded at the capture of Alexandria, but recovered so as to take part in the expedition to Syria, and won the battle of Mount Tabor (1799). When Bonaparte left Egypt he entrusted the chief command there to Kléber, who concluded a convention with Commodore Sidney Smith for its evacuation; but on Admiral Keith's refusal to ratify this convention Kléber adopted the bold resolution of reconquering Egypt, and destroyed the Turkish army at Heliopolis. During an attempt to conclude a treaty with the Turks Kléber was assassinated by a Turkish fanatic at Cairo, 14th June 1800. There are Lives by Ernouf (1867) and Pajol (1877).