The New International Encyclopædia/Bessieres, Jean Baptiste

BESSIERES, ba'syar', Jean Baptiste (1768-1813). Duke of Istria and Marshal of the French Empire. He was born at Preissac, in the Department of Lot, and after serving for a short time in the 'Constitutional Guard' of Louis XVI., entered the Army of the Pyrenees as a private soldier in November, 1792. In less than two years he had attained the rank of captain, and, passing into the Army of Italy, he distinguished himself greatly in the battles of Roveredo and Rivoli. He was made chief of a brigade in 1798, and in that year accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt, and gained distinction at the siege of Saint Jean d'Acre, and at the battle of Abukir. Afterwards he took a prominent part in the greatest battles of Napoleon—Marengo. Austerlitz, Jena, Friedlaud, Eylau, Eckmühl, Aspern, and Wagram—and within five years (from 1800 to 1805), he was made successively general of brigade, general of division, and marshal of France. For his gallant behavior in Spain he was in 1809 created Duke of Istria. In the Russian campaign he commanded the cavalry of the Guard, and during the disastrous retreat from Moscow the services he rendered were of the utmost importance. In 1813 he received the command of the whole of the French cavalry. On the morning of the battle of Lützen, while leading on foot the tirailleurs to reconnoiter the field from the defile of Eippach, he fell mortally wounded. The news of his death was kept concealed from the army throughout the day. Bonaparte lost in Bessières one of his ablest officers and his most faithful friend. Bessières was a kind commander and an honest man. He died poor.