Étienne Macdonald
Marshal of France (1765-1840)
Étienne Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre Macdonald, 1st duc de Tarente (French pronunciation: [etjɛn ʒak ʒozɛf alɛksɑ̃dʁ makdɔnald]; 17 November 1765 – 25 September 1840), was a Marshal of the Empire and military leader during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.
Born in Sedan, the son of an exiled Scottish Jacobite, Macdonald was serving in the Irish Brigade at the outbreak of the revolution. He embraced the revolutionary cause and rapidly rose through the ranks after distinguishing himself at the Battle of Jemappes, earning the rank of brigade general in 1793 and divisional general a year later. Macdonald commanded the French troops in Rome following the proclamation of the Roman Republic in 1798. In 1799, he took part in the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples, but later in the same year suffered a major defeat at the Trebbia by an Austro-Russian army under Alexander Suvorov. He supported Napoleon following the Coup of 18 Brumaire but fell out of favour due to his association with Jean Victor Marie Moreau and was forced into semi-retirement.
In 1809, Napoleon recalled Macdonald to active duty. He played a significant role in the French victory at the Battle of Wagram and was made a Marshal of France on the battlefield, and Duke of Taranto (duc de Tarente) soon after. He covered the French retreat following their decisive defeat at Leipzig and barely escaped with his life. Macdonald was made a peer of France after the Bourbon Restoration, and did not rejoin Napoleon during the Hundred Days.
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