Jean-Michel Beysser
Encyclopedia
Jean-Michel Beysser was a French general.
in the régiment de Lorraine from 1769 to 1778. He was later part of the armée de Bretagne from 1778 to 1781, apparently as a surgeon-major. He served in the Swiss regiment de Moron as a surgeon-major under the orders of the Dutch East India Company
, then as the captain of a Dutch regiment, before returning to France in 1788.
dragoons at Lorient
, rising to lieutenant colonel in 1790 then a captain in the National Gendarmerie of Morbihan
in 1791. Thanks to the French Revolutionary Wars
he rose rapidly through the officer ranks:
In this last post he repulsed the Vendéens at the end of June 1793. Signing the federalist manifesto of 5 July 1793, he was forced to take refuge in Lorient. On 2 August 1793 he defended himself before the National Convention
, which restored him to the same army and the same rank as before. On 17 September 1793, he was defeated by the Vendéens at Montaigu
. Already suspecting him, the government arrested him and on 2 October 1793 imprisoned him in the Prison de l'Abbaye
. He appeared before the Revolutionary Tribunal
of Paris
and was condemned to death by it on 24 March 1794 (4 germinal year II), as an accomplice of Jacques-René Hébert, Charles Philippe Ronsin, François -Nicolas Vincent, Mazuel, Antoine-François Momoro
(all already condemned) in trying to dissolve the national representative assembly and put a tyrant in place over the state. He was guillotined at the same time as Arthur de Dillon
, Pierre-Gaspard Chaumette, Jean-Baptiste Gobel, Lucile Desmoulins and Marie Marguerite Françoise Hébert
on 13 April 1794 (24 germinal an II).
Before 1789
He began his military career as a dragoonDragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
in the régiment de Lorraine from 1769 to 1778. He was later part of the armée de Bretagne from 1778 to 1781, apparently as a surgeon-major. He served in the Swiss regiment de Moron as a surgeon-major under the orders of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, then as the captain of a Dutch regiment, before returning to France in 1788.
Revolution
In July 1789, he was made major of the National GuardNational Guard (France)
The National Guard was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the militias formed in each city, in imitation of the National Guard created in Paris. It was a military force separate from the regular army...
dragoons at Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
, rising to lieutenant colonel in 1790 then a captain in the National Gendarmerie of Morbihan
Morbihan
Morbihan is a department in Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan , the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.-History:...
in 1791. Thanks to the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
he rose rapidly through the officer ranks:
- 10 February 1793, adjudant-général as supernumerary lieutenant-colonel without appointments, to the armée des Côtes.
- 7 March 1793, chef de brigade to the 21e chasseurs à cheval.
- 6 May 1793, adjudant-général chef de brigade to the armée des Côtes-de-Brest
- 20 June 1793, général de brigade.
In this last post he repulsed the Vendéens at the end of June 1793. Signing the federalist manifesto of 5 July 1793, he was forced to take refuge in Lorient. On 2 August 1793 he defended himself before the National Convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
, which restored him to the same army and the same rank as before. On 17 September 1793, he was defeated by the Vendéens at Montaigu
Montaigu
-In France:*Montaigu, in the Aisne département*Montaigu, in the Jura département*Montaigu, in the Vendée département*Montaigu-de-Quercy, in the Tarn-et-Garonne département*Montaigu-la-Brisette, in the Manche département...
. Already suspecting him, the government arrested him and on 2 October 1793 imprisoned him in the Prison de l'Abbaye
Prison de l'Abbaye
The prison de l’Abbaye was a Paris prison in use from 1522 to 1854. The final building was built by Gamard in 1631 and made up of three floors, flanked by two turrets and an échauguette...
. He appeared before the Revolutionary Tribunal
Revolutionary Tribunal
The Revolutionary Tribunal was a court which was instituted in Paris by the Convention during the French Revolution for the trial of political offenders, and eventually became one of the most powerful engines of the Reign of Terror....
of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and was condemned to death by it on 24 March 1794 (4 germinal year II), as an accomplice of Jacques-René Hébert, Charles Philippe Ronsin, François -Nicolas Vincent, Mazuel, Antoine-François Momoro
Antoine-François Momoro
Antoine-François Momoro was a French printer, bookseller and politician during the French Revolution. An important figure in the Cordeliers club and in Hébertisme, he is the originator of the phrase Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, the motto of the French Republic.-Life:-"First Printer of...
(all already condemned) in trying to dissolve the national representative assembly and put a tyrant in place over the state. He was guillotined at the same time as Arthur de Dillon
Arthur Dillon (1750-1794)
*Biographie moderne, Paris Eymery Éditeur ;...
, Pierre-Gaspard Chaumette, Jean-Baptiste Gobel, Lucile Desmoulins and Marie Marguerite Françoise Hébert
Marie Marguerite Françoise Hébert
Marie Marguerite Françoise Hébert, née Goupil, was a figure in the French Revolution. She was the daughter of Jacques Goupil and of Louise Morel...
on 13 April 1794 (24 germinal an II).
Sources
- Jean Tulard, Jean-François Fayard et Alfred Fierro, Histoire et dictionnaire de la Révolution française. 1789-1799, Robert Laffont, coll. « Bouquins », Paris, 1987