Jean-Jacques Germain Pelet-Clozeau
French general
Died when: 81 years 158 days (977 months)Star Sign: Cancer
Jean-Jacques Germain Pelet-Clozeau (15 July 1777 – 20 December 1858) became a French general in the Napoleonic Wars and later was a politician and historian.
He joined the French army in 1800 and became a topographic engineer.He joined the staff of Marshal André Masséna and was wounded at Caldiero in 1805.
He served in southern Italy in 1806 and Poland in 1807.He was wounded at Ebelsberg and fought at Aspern-Essling and Wagram in 1809.
When Emperor Napoleon ordered Masséna to take command of the Army of Portugal, Pelet went with him as his first aide-de-camp.
Though Pelet was a relatively low-ranking officer, the marshal relied heavily on his advice during the unsuccessful 1810–1811 invasion of Portugal.
Pelet fought in the French invasion of Russia, including during Marshal Michel Ney's epic retreat at Krasnoi where he was wounded again.
Promoted to general officer, he led troops in the 1813 and 1814 campaigns, including a brief stint as acting division commander.He led a regiment of the Old Guard at Waterloo.
Placed on the army's inactive list, Pelet nevertheless worked in the military archives while publishing books and articles about the wars.
In 1830, he was appointed director of the army staff school.Though nearly killed in an assassination attempt in 1835, he continued to publish military histories.
Under the Second French Empire he engaged in diplomacy and politics.Pelet is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 19.
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