Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr

Marshal Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr Marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr
Portrait of Marshal Saint-Cyr by Horace Vernet, 1821
Minister of War
In office 7 July 1815 – 26 September 1815
Preceded by	Louis-Nicolas Davout
Succeeded by	Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke
In office 12 September 1817 – 19 November 1819
Preceded by	Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke
Succeeded by	Victor de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg
Minister of the Navy and Colonies
In office 23 June 1817 – 12 September 1817
Preceded by	François Joseph de Gratet, Vicomte de Dubouchage
Succeeded by	Louis-Mathieu Molé
Personal details
Born	Laurent Gouvion (1764-04-13)13 April 1764 Toul, Three Bishoprics, Kingdom of France
Died	17 March 1830(1830-03-17) (aged 65) Hyères, Var, Kingdom of France
Awards	Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honour
Military service
Allegiance	French Republic  French Empire Kingdom of France
Branch/service	Army
Years of service	1792–1819
Rank	Marshal of the Empire
Battles/wars	See list: French Revolutionary Wars War of the First Coalition Battle of Mainz Battle of Rastatt Battle of Ettlingen Battle of Neresheim Battle of Emmendingen Battle of Biberach Battle of Schliengen Siege of Kehl War of the Second Coalition Battle of Novi Second Battle of Novi Battle of Stockach Battle of Messkirch Battle of Biberach War of the Oranges Napoleonic Wars War of the Third Coalition Battle of Castelfranco Veneto Invasion of Naples Peninsular War Siege of Roses Battle of Cardedeu Battle of Molins de Rei Battle of Valls Third Siege of Girona French invasion of Russia First Battle of Polotsk Second Battle of Polotsk War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Dresden Siege of Dresden

Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, 1st Marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr (French: [loʁɑ̃ də ɡuvjɔ̃ sɛ̃ siʁ]; 13 April 1764 – 17 March 1830) was a French military leader of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was a made a Marshal of the Empire in 1812 by Emperor Napoleon, who regarded him as his finest general in defensive warfare.^[1]

Gouvion Saint-Cyr showed an early interest in drawing, but with the onset of the French Revolution, he joined the French Revolutionary Army in September 1792 and experienced a meteoric rise through the ranks. Promoted to general of division in June 1794, he fought the Austrians in Germany and Italy under the command of generals Moreau and Jourdan.

After a period in administrative roles, Gouvion Saint-Cyr was appointed Colonel General of the cuirassiers in 1804. He served as commander-in-chief of the camp of Boulogne from 1806 to 1808 and was then sent to Spain, where he scored a series of victories at the head of the Army of Catalonia. He took command of the VI Corps of the Grande armée during the Russian campaign, where he obtained his marshal's baton for his victory at the First Battle of Polotsk. He served in the German campaign of 1813 and was taken prisoner at the capitulation of Dresden in November 1813.

Returning to France in June 1814, Gouvion Saint-Cyr played no role during the Hundred Days and became Minister of War then Minister of the Navy and Colonies under the Bourbon Restoration. His tenure was marked by several important reforms such as the law on recruitment. A talented commander, Gouvion Saint-Cyr's cold and taciturn character earned him the nickname "The Owl" (le Hibou) from his soldiers.