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Simon Bernard

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French army general (1779–1839) For the French surgeon and revolutionary, see Simon François Bernard.
Simon Bernard
Born(1779-04-28)April 28, 1779
Dole, France
DiedNovember 5, 1839(1839-11-05) (aged 60)
Paris, France
Allegiance
  • France
  • United States
Service / branch
Years of service1794 - 1839
RankLieutenant-general
Battles / warsNapoleonic Wars
Awards
Alma materÉcole polytechnique

Baron Simon Bernard (French: [simɔ̃ bɛʁnaʁ]; 28 April 1779 – 5 November 1839) was a French general of engineers. Born in Dole, Simon Bernard was educated at the École polytechnique, graduating as second in the promotion of 1799 and entered the army in the corps of engineers.

French military service

He rose rapidly, becoming a captain in 1800 and a major in 1809. After being involved in the works to the Port of Antwerp, Bernard served (1809–1812) as aide-de-camp to Napoléon. Promoted to colonel in 1813, he was wounded in the retreat after the battle of Leipzig and distinguished himself the same year (1813) in the gallant three month defense of the besieged city of Torgau against the allies.

After Napoléon's first abdication he rallied to the Bourbons and was promoted to general de brigade by Louis XVIII of France and made a knight of Saint Louis. Bernard was tasked by the minister of war Clarke with topographical work. After Napoléon's return from Elba, Bernard rallied to the emperor and took part in the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Service in the United States Army

After the emperor's second abdication he was banished from France and, refusing an offer for employment from czar Alexander I of Russia, emigrated to the United States, where he was accepted as an assistant engineer with the rank and pay of a brigadier-general of engineers on November 16, 1816. He designed a number of extensive forts for the Army, notably Fort Monroe and Fort Wool in Virginia, Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, Fort Morgan in Alabama, Fort McRee in Florida and Fort Pulaski in Georgia. During Marquis de LaFayette's famous trip to the United States in 1824–1825, the Marquis admired Fort Monroe, the Old Point Comfort stronghold which had also been designed by Bernard.

Fort Monroe, the most famous work of general Bernard

During his time in America, he was a member of the prestigious Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, which counted among its members presidents Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions. In 1829, under the employ of the U.S. congress, Bernard completed a survey to discover the feasibility of a Cross Florida Canal.

He resigned from the United States Army on July 10, 1831.

Return to France

He returned to France after the July Revolution of 1830 and he was made a lieutenant-général by Louis Philippe I of France. He was named to the general committee on fortifications and was tasked with drafting the plans to improve the fortifications of Paris. He was made a peer of France in 1834. He served twice as minister of war. In 1834 he held the post for eight days (10–18 November) and again from September 1836 to March 1839 under Louis-Mathieu Molé.

General Bernard died in Paris on November 5, 1839.

See also

References

  1. ^ Chisholm 1911.
  2. Erickson, Mark St. John (22 October 2014). "Hampton Roads swooned over Lafayette's 1824 return as a Revolutionary War icon". Newport News, Virginia: Daily Press. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  3. Rathbun, Richard (October 18, 1917). The Columbian institute for the promotion of arts and sciences: A Washington Society of 1816–1838. Retrieved 2010-06-20. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. Flynt, Wayne (2008). "The Cross-Florida Canal and the Politics of Interest-Group Democracy". The Florida Historical Quarterly. 87 (1): 2. JSTOR 20700193. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
Attribution


Political offices
Preceded byÉtienne Maurice Gérard Minister of War
10 November 1834 – 18 November 1834 		Succeeded byÉdouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier
Preceded byNicolas Joseph Maison Minister of War
6 September 1836 – 31 March 1839 		Succeeded byAmédée Louis Despans-Cubières
Cabinet of Hugues-Bernard Maret (10 November 1834 to 18 November 1834)
Head of state: King Louis Philippe I
President of the councilHugues-Bernard Maret

Hugues-Bernard Maret
InteriorHugues-Bernard Maret
Justice and Religious AffairsJean-Charles Persil
Foreign AffairsCharles-Joseph Bresson
WarSimon Bernard
FinanceHippolyte Passy
Navy and ColoniesCharles Dupin
Public EducationJean-Baptiste Teste
CommerceJean-Baptiste Teste
First cabinet of Louis Mathieu Molé (6 September 1836 to 15 April 1837)
Head of state: King Louis Philippe I
President of the councilLouis-Mathieu Molé

Louis-Mathieu Molé
WarSimon, général-baron Bernard
JusticeJean-Charles Persil
Foreign AffairsLouis-Mathieu Molé
Interior
FinanceTanneguy Duchâtel
Navy and ColoniesClaude du Campe de Rosamel
Public EducationFrançois Guizot
CommerceTanneguy Duchâtel
Public Works, Agriculture and CommerceNicolas Martin du Nord
Second cabinet of Louis Mathieu Molé (15 April 1837 to 31 March 1839)
Head of state: King Louis Philippe I
President of the councilLouis-Mathieu Molé

Louis-Mathieu Molé
Foreign AffairsLouis-Mathieu Molé
InteriorCamille de Montalivet
Justice and Religious Affairs:
WarSimon Bernard
FinanceJean Lacave-Laplagne
Navy and ColoniesClaude du Campe de Rosamel
Public EducationNarcisse-Achille de Salvandy
Public Works, Agriculture and CommerceNicolas Martin du Nord
Categories: