MenuGeneral François Auguste Damas
Born: October 2, 1773
Place of Birth: Paris, Paris, France
Died: September 7, 1812
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Place of Death: Borodino, Russia
Arc de Triomphe: DAMAS on the north pillar
The son of a carpenter, François Auguste Damas joined the National Guard of Paris at the end of 1789. Three years later he was serving in the Army of the Rhine as an aide-de-camp to General Schauenburg. Promoted to sous-lieutenant in December of 1792, Damas served with the 12th Cavalry Regiment until late in 1793 when he became an aide-de-camp to his brother General Damas. In 1794 he joined the Army of the Sambre and Meuse and then in 1796 he was promoted to capitaine and he joined the 7th Chasseurs à Cheval. A few years later, Damas became an aide-de-camp to General Kléber and he participated in the expedition to Egypt. Later in 1798 he was promoted to chef d'escadrons and then in early 1800 he was promoted to chef de brigade. Finally returning to France, he was put on non-activity in 1801.
Colonel Damas resumed his military career in 1803 when he joined General Mortier's staff and served at Hanover. When the Grande Armée marched out to confront the Third Coalition in 1805, he took a position with the staff of I Corps for the campaign. In 1806 he passed to the service of Holland and the following year he was made a Knight of the Order of the Union of Holland. That year he was also promoted to major general.
Damas stayed in the service of Holland until 1810 and the following year he entered the service of Westphalia as a général de brigade. Taking part in the campaign in Russia in 1812, he commanded a brigade of Tharreau's 23rd Division in VIII Corps and was killed at the Battle of Borodino.
Bibliography
- Divry, Arnauld. Les Noms Gravés sur l'Arc de Triomphe. Paris: L'Harmattan, 2017.
- Quintin, Danielle, and Bernard Quintin. Dictionnaire des Colonels de Napoléon. Paris: S.P.M., 1996.
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Updated August 2024
© Nathan D. Jensen