General Jean Aubry Léonard Huard

Général de brigade who was killed at Borodino

Born: January 11, 1770

Place of Birth: Villedieu-les-Poêles, Manche, France

Died: September 7, 1812

Cause of Death: Killed in action

Place of Death: Borodino, Russia

Arc de Triomphe: HUARD on the north pillar

Pronunciation:

The son of a gendarme, Jean Aubry Léonard Huard joined the 4th Battalion of Manche in August of 1792 and he was quickly elected a capitaine. A month later he was chosen as the lieutenant colonel of his battalion and then later he and his men began serving with the Army of the North. Over the next year Huard would serve with the Army of the Center and Army of the Moselle. In 1794 Huard served in the Army of the Rhine and Moselle as a chef de bataillon in the 26th demi-brigade, which in 1796 became the 108th demi-brigade. In 1796 and 1797 he served with the Army of the Sambre and Meuse and then in 1798 he served with the Army of Mainz. In 1799 Huard served with the Army of the Danube and that March he fought at Ostrach. Seven months later in October he fought at Muotathal where he was wounded in the left arm and taken prisoner. Freed in March of 1800, Huard returned to France and then joined the Army of the Rhine. In July he was promoted to chef de brigade of the 42nd of the Line and then in December he led them into action at Hohenlinden.

Colonel Huard next served in Switzerland under Ney from 1802 to 1803. Afterwards he joined the Army of Naples and in 1806 he took part in the conquest of Naples. After the French defeat at Maida in July, Huard helped cover the retreat. At the end of the year he distinguished himself at the siege of Amantea and then in 1807 he received a promotion to général de brigade. Huard continued to serve in Italy and in 1808 he was named a Commander of the Order of Two Sicilies. In 1809 he took command of the 1st Brigade of Lamarque's 4th Division in the Army of Italy and in May he distinguished himself at the combat of Lohitsch against Austrian General Kalnassy. He went on to fight at the Battle of Wagram where he was wounded while participating in Macdonald's column. Afterwards, Huard was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor and in 1810 he became a Baron of the Empire.

In 1811 General Huard took command of the 1st Brigade of Delzons' division in Italy, with the Italian troops becoming Viceroy Eugene's IV Corps of the Grande Armée in 1812 for the campaign in Russia. Huard went on the campaign and distinguished himself at Ostrowno in July before being killed at the Battle of Borodino.

Bibliography

Updated August 2024