MenuGeneral Jean Guillaume Barthélemy Thomières
Born: August 18, 1771
Place of Birth: Sérignan, Hérault, France
Died: July 22, 1812
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Place of Death: Salamanca, Spain
Arc de Triomphe: THOMIERES on the west pillar
Pronunciation:
The son of an infantry officer, Jean Guillaume Barthélemy Thomières began his military career by joining the 5th Battalion of Volunteers of Hérault on January 1st, 1793. Four months later he was elected a capitaine of his battalion and he and his battalion were sent to the Army of the Eastern Pyrenees. Once there, Thomières became an aide-de-camp to General Boisconteau and in early 1794 he joined the staff of the army. Next Thomières saw action in multiple battles, fighting at Peyrestortes , Boulou, Céret, Saint-Laurent de la Mouga, the Siege of Roses, and the Battle of the Fluvia.
In 1796 Thomières joined the Army of Italy, serving at Dego , Mondovi , and Fombio. He then became an aide-de-camp to General Lanusse and continued to fight throughout the year, serving at Lodi , Bassano , Saint-Georges, Governolo, and Arcola . In June of 1797 Thomières became an aide-de-camp to General Victor and he continued to serve in Italy for the next few years. His next major actions came in 1799 when he fought at Verona, Pontremoli, the Battle of the Trebbia , and Fossano. In 1800 Thomières was promoted to chef de bataillon and he continued to serve as an aide-de-camp to Victor, serving at Montebello and Marengo.
During the years of peace, Thomières initially served in Holland and then in 1802 he became an aide-de-camp to General Macors. In 1803 he served at the camp of Saint-Omer, and after the Grande Armée marched east in 1805 he served under Andreossy in the supply staff. The next year Thomières became an aide-de-camp to Marshal Lannes and he also became an adjudant-commandant. He went on to serve with Lannes throughout the campaigns in Prussia and Poland and during this time he also became an Officer of the Legion of Honor. A month after the Battle of Friedland he was promoted to général de brigade.
Thomières was assigned to the Spanish Peninsula in 1808 where he commanded a brigade. He distinguished himself at Vimeiro that August where he was also wounded. Remaining in Spain, in January of 1809 he was present at Corunna as part of Merle's division. In June he became a Baron of the Empire. In July Thomières was placed with Mermet's division, and then in October he served under the younger Kellermann in Old Castile. Another reward followed when he was made a Knight of the Order of Saint Henry of Saxony. Next Thomières commanded the 2nd Brigade of Solignac's 2nd Division of VIII Corps. In 1811 he served as part of Maucune's division but by the summer of 1812 he was commanding the 7th Division of the Army of Portugal. He was leading his division in battle at the Battle of Salamanca when he was killed by a shot. His body was found by the British and he was buried at a church in Salamanca.
Bibliography
- Divry, Arnauld. Les Noms Gravés sur l'Arc de Triomphe. Paris: L'Harmattan, 2017.
- 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 February 2022
© Nathan D. Jensen