General Claude-Marie Hervo

Deputy chief of staff to Marshal Davout's III Corps who was killed near Eckmühl

Born: September 11, 1766

Place of Birth: Quimperlé, Finistère, France

Died: April 21, 1809

Cause of Death: Killed in action

Place of Death: Peising, Germany

Arc de Triomphe: HERVO on the east pillar

Pronunciation:

Joining the National Guard of Lorient at the onset of the Revolution in July of 1789, Claude-Marie Hervo went on to join the 9th Infantry as a sous-lieutenant in September of 1792. He served with the Army of the Rhine and then was promoted to lieutenant in March of 1793. Next Hervo served at Mainz during the Siege of Mainz, and following the terms of the surrender of Mainz to the Allies he was then sent to serve in the west of France. After Hervo arrived in the west, General Haxo promoted Hervo to capitaine and then in 1794 Hervo became an aide-de-camp to Haxo. Hervo next joined the Army of the Moselle in April of 1794 and then in 1795 he took part in the blockade of Mainz to retake the city. Later that year he joined the Army of the Interior. In 1797 Hervo was named a capitaine in the 21st Chasseurs à Cheval but he also served with the staff of the 17th military division at Paris. He was promoted to chef d'escadrons in February of 1799 and sent to the Army of Italy, and in 1800 he served at the Siege of Genoa.

In 1801 Hervo returned to France briefly before rejoining the Army of Italy. Two years later in 1803 he was employed in the 16th military division at Calais and he commanded the batteries at Dunkirk established to ensure the defense of the coast and safety of coastal traffic. Before long though, Hervo was sent to the camp of Bruges. In 1805 when the Grande Armée marched east to deal with the Austrian and Russian threats of the Third Coalition, Hervo served as chief of staff of the cavalry of III Corps under General Viallannes. He served throughout the campaigns of the Grande Armée for the next few years and during this time he was named deputy chief of staff of Marshal Davout's III Corps. In October of 1806 Hervo was wounded at the Marshal Davout's and then in February of 1807 he served at the Battle of Eylau. A promotion to général de brigade followed a month later and then once the campaign was concluded Hervo was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor in July of 1807.

In 1808 General Hervo was further rewarded, being named a Knight of the Order of Saint Henry of Saxony and a Baron of the Empire. In 1809 he took command of the 1st Brigade of General Friant's division, but after Austria attacked Hervo resumed his position as deputy chief of staff of Marshal Davout's III Corps. He served with III Corps during the Danube campaign and he was killed in action during a reconnaissance at Peising, near Eckmühl.

Bibliography

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Généraux & Amiraux Français de la Révolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). 2 vols. Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

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Updated December 2016