General Jacques-François Brun

Jacques-François Brun began his military career by enlisting in 1783. The Revolution sparked new opportunities for enlisted soldiers, and in August of 1792 he was elected captain of the 9th Battalion of Volunteers of Doubs. Within a month he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and for the next few years he served with the armies of the Rhine and later the Moselle. That November he fought at the combat of Kaiserslautern, and then the next big battle came in 1794 when he served at Fleurus. Joining the Army of the Sambre and Meuse, he took part in the battles of Ourthe and Aledenhoven and then the siege of Luxembourg.

In September of 1795 Lieutenant Colonel Brun served during the crossing of the Rhine at Dusseldorf before fighting at Lahn and Limbourg. The next year he saw much action, fighting at Altenkirchen, Wetzlar, and Friedberg before receiving a promotion to chef de brigade. During the fall of 1798, Brun joined the Army of Italy, and the next summer distinguished himself at the Trebbia in June. Two months later he fought at Novi, and then in November served at Fossano and Mondovi.

Still with the Army of Italy in 1800, Brun served throughout the siege of Genoa under Masséna, but took his share of wounds for it. On April 14th, he was hit by a ball to the right arm at the bridge of Sturla, and then on May 12th was wounded by a shot to the neck. His contributions were recognized though, and in May he was promoted to general de brigade. On Christmas Day of that year, he was given command of a brigade of infantry under General Suchet at Borghetto.

In 1801 General Brun was stationed with the French troops serving in the Cisalpine Republic. In 1804 he was rewarded as a Commander of the Legion of Honor, and with the resumption of hostilities in 1805, he again served in Italy, taking command of the 1st Brigade of Verdier's division of the advance guard of the Army of Italy. During the Battle of Caldiero he was killed by a shot.

Note: Six's Dictionnaire Biographique lists two generals named Brun on the Arc de Triomphe, but there is only one Brun on the monument. Further investigation is required.

Sources:

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Generaux & Amiraux Francais de la Revolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.