Jean Baptiste Joseph, chevalier de Laumoy
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Jean Baptiste Joseph, chevalier de Laumoy (1750–1832) French engineer, fought in the American Revolutionary War
, and was on the staff of Lafayette and was captured with him, by the Austrians.
De Laumoy was the son of a French infantry captain. He entered the French military engineering school in 1760. He was assigned to America in 1777. On 17 November Laumoy was commissioned Colonel of Engineers; he joined Washington's winter camp at Valley Forge. The French engineers, de Laumoy, La Radiere, and Duportail, provided knowledge of European fortifications and siege warfare.
Laumoy was deployed to the southern operations area on 8 February 1779; he advised Benjamin Lincoln
at Charleston to surrender given the inadequate fortifications; he was taken prisoner at the Siege of Charleston
(12 May 1780); he was exchanged on 26 November 1782. Laumoy was breveted Brigadier General on 30 September 1783, and honorably discharged from the US Army the following month.
He returned to France in December 1783. On 4 July 1784 he was awarded the Order of Saint Louis
, a distinction his father had also received. On 1 July 1785, Laumoy was made Aide maréchal général des logis at Saint-Domingue
. Later, returning to France, he was Mestre de camp on 2 December 1787. For some months in 1788, he served on the army general staff. On 14 February 1789, he was second in command at Martinique, when the French suppressed a rebellion by island's large African slave and ex-slave population. As one of the hated administrators, Laumoy was obliged to return to France in May 1790.
For a while, Laumoy held a number of staff posts in the French Revolutionary Army. However, along with Lafayette, he was forced to flee in August 1792, and was captured by the Austrians, at Rochefort, Belgium
. Upon release, he lived in exile, in Holland, but escaped to America when Napoleon invaded The Netherlands. Laumoy lived in Philadelphia until he was removed from the émigré list. He returned to France in the summer of 1801. He retired in 1810, and died 19 January 1832.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and was on the staff of Lafayette and was captured with him, by the Austrians.
De Laumoy was the son of a French infantry captain. He entered the French military engineering school in 1760. He was assigned to America in 1777. On 17 November Laumoy was commissioned Colonel of Engineers; he joined Washington's winter camp at Valley Forge. The French engineers, de Laumoy, La Radiere, and Duportail, provided knowledge of European fortifications and siege warfare.
Laumoy was deployed to the southern operations area on 8 February 1779; he advised Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
at Charleston to surrender given the inadequate fortifications; he was taken prisoner at the Siege of Charleston
Siege of Charleston
The Siege of Charleston was one of the major battles which took place towards the end of the American Revolutionary War, after the British began to shift their strategic focus towards the American Southern Colonies. After about six weeks of siege, Continental Army Major General Benjamin Lincoln...
(12 May 1780); he was exchanged on 26 November 1782. Laumoy was breveted Brigadier General on 30 September 1783, and honorably discharged from the US Army the following month.
He returned to France in December 1783. On 4 July 1784 he was awarded the Order of Saint Louis
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
, a distinction his father had also received. On 1 July 1785, Laumoy was made Aide maréchal général des logis at Saint-Domingue
Saint-Domingue
The labour for these plantations was provided by an estimated 790,000 African slaves . Between 1764 and 1771, the average annual importation of slaves varied between 10,000-15,000; by 1786 it was about 28,000, and from 1787 onward, the colony received more than 40,000 slaves a year...
. Later, returning to France, he was Mestre de camp on 2 December 1787. For some months in 1788, he served on the army general staff. On 14 February 1789, he was second in command at Martinique, when the French suppressed a rebellion by island's large African slave and ex-slave population. As one of the hated administrators, Laumoy was obliged to return to France in May 1790.
For a while, Laumoy held a number of staff posts in the French Revolutionary Army. However, along with Lafayette, he was forced to flee in August 1792, and was captured by the Austrians, at Rochefort, Belgium
Rochefort, Belgium
Rochefort is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur close to the Ardennes. On January 1, 2006 Rochefort had a total population of 12,038. The total area is 165.27 km² which gives a population density of 73 inhabitants per km²...
. Upon release, he lived in exile, in Holland, but escaped to America when Napoleon invaded The Netherlands. Laumoy lived in Philadelphia until he was removed from the émigré list. He returned to France in the summer of 1801. He retired in 1810, and died 19 January 1832.