Léonard-Léopold Forgemol de Bostquénard
Encyclopedia
Léonard-Léopold Forgemol de Bostquénard (1821–1897) was a general
in the French Army.
He was born on the 17th September 1821 at Azerables
, in the Creuse
départment
and died on the 28th November 1897 at Versailles
.
He graduated from the military school of Saint-Cyr
in 1839 and was posted to Algeria
in 1840 as an infantry lieutenant, eventually attaining the rank of colonel. At the start of the Franco-Prussian war
, in 1870, he was recalled in France. Provisionally ranked as a brigadier general
on January 30, 1871, he was made up to the permanent position in the following September.
He commanded a subdivision of the department of Aisne
with the subsidiary role of secretary of the War Council and in 1878, he was put in military command of the department of Seine-et-Oise
. He was promoted to divisional general on March 4, 1879. An injury that he received during the war obliged him to wear a large silver plastron over his abdomen. He was advised to retire, but replied that since he could still sit on a horse, he was still as useful on the battlefield as any other soldier.
In 1881, he was in command of the army for the region of Constantine, Algeria
. He was ordered by the government of Jules Ferry
to direct the military operations in Tunisia
from April to July 1881. They resulted in the establishment of the French protectorate under the treaties of Bardo and Marsa in 1883. He remained in Tunisia up until 1883 and oversaw a second campaign of "pacification" in the region of Kairouan
. On his return to Paris, he became a staff-officer at the war ministry. He was awarded the Legion d'honneur
, on May 4, 1889 and received the French military medal in 1894. He was named as Commandant of the 11th Army Corps from 1889, until his retirement in 1894.
A commemorative plate was fixed to the wall of his modest family home at Azérables. It includes the name of his brother John Jacques Hector (1819–1883), military surgeon and also a member of the Légion d’honneur.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in the French Army.
He was born on the 17th September 1821 at Azerables
Azerables
Azerables is a commune in the Creuse department in the Limousin region in central France.-Geography:An area of farming and lakes comprising the village and several hamlets situated by the banks of the river Anglin, some northwest of Guéret, at the junction of the D1, D15 and the D70...
, in the Creuse
Creuse
Creuse is a department in central France named after the Creuse River.-History:Creuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from the former province of La Marche....
départment
Department
A department is a part of a larger organization with a specific responsibility. For the division of organizations into departments, see departmentalization.In particular:...
and died on the 28th November 1897 at Versailles
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...
.
He graduated from the military school of Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
in 1839 and was posted to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
in 1840 as an infantry lieutenant, eventually attaining the rank of colonel. At the start of the Franco-Prussian war
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, in 1870, he was recalled in France. Provisionally ranked as a brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
on January 30, 1871, he was made up to the permanent position in the following September.
He commanded a subdivision of the department of Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
with the subsidiary role of secretary of the War Council and in 1878, he was put in military command of the department of Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise was a département of France encompassing the western, northern, and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its préfecture was Versailles and its official number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was abolished in 1968....
. He was promoted to divisional general on March 4, 1879. An injury that he received during the war obliged him to wear a large silver plastron over his abdomen. He was advised to retire, but replied that since he could still sit on a horse, he was still as useful on the battlefield as any other soldier.
In 1881, he was in command of the army for the region of Constantine, Algeria
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
. He was ordered by the government of Jules Ferry
Jules Ferry
Jules François Camille Ferry was a French statesman and republican. He was a promoter of laicism and colonial expansion.- Early life :Born in Saint-Dié, in the Vosges département, France, he studied law, and was called to the bar at Paris in 1854, but soon went into politics, contributing to...
to direct the military operations in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
from April to July 1881. They resulted in the establishment of the French protectorate under the treaties of Bardo and Marsa in 1883. He remained in Tunisia up until 1883 and oversaw a second campaign of "pacification" in the region of Kairouan
Kairouan
Kairouan , also known as Kirwan or al-Qayrawan , is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia. Referred to as the Islamic Cultural Capital, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670...
. On his return to Paris, he became a staff-officer at the war ministry. He was awarded the Legion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, on May 4, 1889 and received the French military medal in 1894. He was named as Commandant of the 11th Army Corps from 1889, until his retirement in 1894.
A commemorative plate was fixed to the wall of his modest family home at Azérables. It includes the name of his brother John Jacques Hector (1819–1883), military surgeon and also a member of the Légion d’honneur.
Sources
Gen. de Bostquénard dead, le New York Times, 30 novembre 1897.- Military biography and photograph
- This article is based on the equivalent article from the French WikipediaFrench WikipediaThe French Wikipedia is the French language edition of Wikipedia, spelt Wikipédia. This edition was started in March 2001, and has about articles as of , making it the third-largest Wikipedia overall, after the English-language and German-language editions...
, consulted on December 31, 2007.