MenuGeneral Michel-Armand de Bacharetie de Beaupuy
Born: July 14, 1755
Place of Birth: Mussidan, Dordogne, France
Died: October 19, 1796
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Place of Death: Emmendingen, Germany
Arc de Triomphe: BEAUPUY on the east pillar
Pronunciation:
A career soldier, Michel-Armand de Bacharetie de Beaupuy first enlisted in 1771 at age fifteen. Two years later he was promoted sous-lieutenant, and the next major event in his career came in 1780 when he served in the war against the English. In 1785 Beaupuy was promoted to lieutenant, a rank he would hold until the Revolution.
After the arrival of the Revolution, in 1791 Beaupuy was promoted to capitaine in the 32nd Infantry while his brother Nicolas was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a representative of Dordogne. The following year Beaupuy served in the Army of the Vosges and then the Army of the Rhine, fought at Spire, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 4th Regiment of Grenadiers. In March of 1793 he served at Weiler and Bingen, and then in April he served in the defense of Mainz and participated in the sorties from there under General Meusnier. Then next month Beaupuy was promoted to chef de brigade while he continued to repulse the enemy until he was wounded in the right foot by an explosion. After Meusnier's death, Beaupuy became deputy commander of the troops at Kastel under Aubert-Dubayet until the surrender of Mainz in July.
Due to the terms of the surrender, Beaupuy was next sent to the Vendée to put down the rebellion there and he was promoted to général de brigade. In October of 1793 he fought the Vendéens at Saint-Christophe and then at Cholet, where he had two horses killed from under him. The representatives of the people with the army promoted him to général de division, but the promotion was not confirmed. Nevertheless, Beaupuy continued to fight, taking Beaupréau and then fighting at Entrammes where he was hit by a ball to the chest. Despite his wounds he was transported to Angers where he directed the defense of the city. After successfully defending Angers, Beaupuy was transported to Mussidan to recover.
In May of 1794 Beaupuy was recovered enough to join the Army of the West as chief of staff. The following January he was confirmed in the rank of général de division and he then served at Machecoul. Three months later he was sent to the Army of the Rhine and Moselle where he took command of the 5th Division. In November of 1795 Beaupuy fought at Frankenthal and played a decisive part in the victory there.
The next year Beaupuy served as part of Desaix's advance guard, and in June fought at Kork where he was wounded by seven or eight saber blows. Beaupuy was sent to Strasbourg to recover, but at the end of July he returned to his post despite not being fully recovered. Regardless of his wounds, Beaupuy fought at Neresheim that August and then played a decisive part in the victory at Geisenfeld in September. In October he contributed to the victory at Biberach and then was fighting at Emmendingen when he was struck by a ball and killed.
Bibliography
Updated August 2019
© Nathan D. Jensen