General Maurice-Etienne Gérard

Gérard was a talented officer who first rose to prominence under Bernadotte.

During the Hundred Days, Gérard recommended General Bourmont to the Emperor, and when Napoleon questioned his loyalty, Gérard guaranteed Bourmont's loyalty with his own head. This was enough to convince the Emperor, but unfortunately, Bourmont then defected to the Allies. Upon learning of this, Napoleon confronted Gérard, tapped him on the cheek, and remarked, "This head's mine, isn't it? But I need you too much!"

Hearing the sounds of the battle of Waterloo in the distance, Gérard and Vandamme argued with Marshal Grouchy to convince him to march to Waterloo, but he would have none of it.

Sources:

Chandler, David G. Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1979.

Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars. London: Arms & Armour, 1998.

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