François Claude du Barail
Encyclopedia
François Claude comte du Barail (25 May 1820 Versailles
- 30 November 1902) was a major general, and French Minister of War under the presidency of Marshal MacMahon.
in February 1840, was mentioned in dispatches from the army in 1842, and appointed the same year, Lieutenant. Decorated for his conduct in making the tribe of Abd al-Qadir, he obtained the rank of Lieutenant after the battle of Isly
, where he was wounded, and, after fighting at Laghouat
, he was promoted squadron leader in the 5th regiment of hussars.
The following year, he was promoted lieutenant colonel, and given command of the upper circle of Laghouat, he left for chasseurs to pass the guard. Appointed Colonel of the 1st Regiment Cuirassiers on 30 December 1857, he returned to Africa in 1860, as head of the 3rd Chassuers and took part, with two squadrons of the regiment in the Mexican War in 1862.
When declaring war on Prussia, 16 July 1870, Barail was given command of a cavalry division comprising four regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique
. His conduct earned him the rank of brigadier general on 23 March 1871.
From May 1873 to May 1874 he was War Minister in the government of Albert de Broglie. He is notably the authority on the general organization of the army. Here ends his career. At the time of the fall of MacMahon (1879), friends of Gambetta
, and during his retirement he devoted himself to writing his memoirs.
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
- 30 November 1902) was a major general, and French Minister of War under the presidency of Marshal MacMahon.
Biography
At nineteen, he enlisted in the Oran lancers, and distinguished himself by his bravery at MostaganemMostaganem
Mostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
in February 1840, was mentioned in dispatches from the army in 1842, and appointed the same year, Lieutenant. Decorated for his conduct in making the tribe of Abd al-Qadir, he obtained the rank of Lieutenant after the battle of Isly
Battle of Isly
The Battle of Isly was fought on August 14, 1844 between France and Morocco, near the Isly River. French forces under Marshal Thomas Robert Bugeaud routed a much larger, but poorly organized, Moroccan force under Mohammed, son of sultan Abderrahmane of Morocco...
, where he was wounded, and, after fighting at Laghouat
Laghouat
Laghouat is the capital city of the Laghouat Province, Algeria, 400 km south of the Algerian capital Algiers in the Atlas Mountains. As of 2005, the population of the city was 126,291 inhabitants. Nearby, in Hassi R'Mel, there is the largest natural gas reserve in Africa.The city was founded in...
, he was promoted squadron leader in the 5th regiment of hussars.
The following year, he was promoted lieutenant colonel, and given command of the upper circle of Laghouat, he left for chasseurs to pass the guard. Appointed Colonel of the 1st Regiment Cuirassiers on 30 December 1857, he returned to Africa in 1860, as head of the 3rd Chassuers and took part, with two squadrons of the regiment in the Mexican War in 1862.
When declaring war on Prussia, 16 July 1870, Barail was given command of a cavalry division comprising four regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique
Chasseurs d'Afrique
The Chasseurs d'Afrique were a light cavalry corps in the French Armée d'Afrique . First raised in the 1830s from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria, they numbered five regiments by World War II...
. His conduct earned him the rank of brigadier general on 23 March 1871.
From May 1873 to May 1874 he was War Minister in the government of Albert de Broglie. He is notably the authority on the general organization of the army. Here ends his career. At the time of the fall of MacMahon (1879), friends of Gambetta
Léon Gambetta
Léon Gambetta was a French statesman prominent after the Franco-Prussian War.-Youth and education:He is said to have inherited his vigour and eloquence from his father, a Genovese grocer who had married a Frenchwoman named Massabie. At the age of fifteen, Gambetta lost the sight of his right eye...
, and during his retirement he devoted himself to writing his memoirs.
Works
- "Mes Souvenirs: La Succession de Fleury", La Revue hebdomadaire. N°82. (T.XIX, 3ème livraison). Paris, Plon-Nourit, 16 décembre 1893
- Mes souvenirs, Plon, 1897-1898