Jacques François Dugommier

Jacques François Dugommier
Portrait byFrançois Bouchot,1836
Born	1 August 1738 Trois-Rivières,France
Died	18 November 1794(1794-11-18)(aged 56) nearFigueres,Spain
Allegiance	Kingdom of France Kingdom of France French Republic
Years of service	1753–1794
Rank	General of division
Commands held	Army of the Eastern Pyrenees
Battles/wars	See list: Seven Years' War Invasion of Guadeloupe (1759) Invasion of Martinique (1762) American War of Independence Battle of St. Lucia French Revolutionary Wars Battle of Gilette Siege of Toulon (1793) Battle of Tech Battle of Albere Second Battle of Boulou Siege of Collioure (1794) Battle of San Lorenzo de la Muga Siege of Fort de Bellegarde (1794) Battle of the Black Mountain†
Awards	Order of Saint Louis Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe

Jacques François Coquille(French pronunciation:[ʒakfʁɑ̃swakɔkij]), known asDugommier(French pronunciation:[dyɡɔmje];1 August 1738 – 18 November 1794), was a French military leader during theFrench Revolutionary Wars.

Early life and career

Jacques François Coquille was born on 1 August 1738 inTrois-Rivièresin the island ofGuadeloupe,in theFrench West Indies.He was the son of Germain Coquille, aplanterand royal councilor, and Claire Laurent. In 1785, he took the name "Dugommier" after the coffeeplantation"Le Gommier" inBasse-Terre,which he bought from his parents in 1768.Dugommier began his military career in the company of "gentlemen cadets"of the colonies inRochefort,at the age of fifteen.He was employed in the naval batteries atLa RochelleandÎle de Rébefore being assigned to an infantry company in 1758.

Dugommier fought in the West Indies theatre of theSeven Years' War,serving in thedefense of Guadeloupein 1759 and thedefense of Martiniquein 1762.He was discharged at his request in 1763, with the rank of ensign of thecompagnies franches de la marine,and retired to his plantations in Guadeloupe.In addition to Le Gommier, Dugommier owned thesugar plantationsGrand'Anse (34 slaves recorded in 1777) and Grands Fonds, in Trois-Rivières,and Peru inLes Abymes(74 slaves recorded in 1784).He briefly returned to service in 1778, during theAmerican War of Independence,when he led a company of volunteers at theBattle of St. Lucia.In 1765, he married Marie-Dieudonnée Coudroy-Bottée (1740-1810) inSainte-Anne, Guadeloupe.

At the start of theFrench Revolution,Dugommier was one of the few planters in Guadeloupe who supported the revolutionary cause. They were opposed to the aristocratic planters, who controlled the colonial assembly and held influence over thegovernor of Guadeloupe.A long conflict then opposed the two camps.In 1790, part of the troops of the Guadeloupe Regiment, led by Dugommier, participated in three expeditions in support of the revolutionaries of Martinique, but failed to overthrow the governor and the colonial assembly.Dugommier left Guadeloupe definitively in July 1791, in order to represent the interests of the revolutionaries of the colonies inParis,as a deputy to theNational Convention.

French Revolutionary Wars

Presumed portrait of Dugommier byJean-François Garneray

Having shown himself a true republican in the National Convention, Dugommier was made amaréchal de camp(brigade general) of theFrench Revolutionary Armyon 10 October 1792, though he initially had no assignment.He was given command of a brigade in theArmy of Italyin May 1793.In September 1793, Dugommier drove the troops of theHabsburg monarchyand theKingdom of Sardiniafrom theCounty of Nice,and defeatedJoseph De Vins'Austrians at theBattle of Giletteon 19 October.

Dugommier was promoted togeneral of divisionon 3 November 1793.On the same day, he was appointed to succeed GeneralJean François Carteauxas commander of the army carrying out theSiege of Toulon.Recognizing that the attack plan of a young artillery captain,Napoleon Bonaparte,was the correct one, Dugommier implemented it. He suffered bruises in the right arm and shoulder while repelling a Britishsortieon 30 November.On that occasion, Bonaparte reported that "General Dugommier fought with true republican courage."On 17 December, Dugommier led the final assault which recaptured Toulon's fortifications, bringing the siege to a successful conclusion.

Eastern Pyrenees campaign

In January 1794, Dugommier was appointed commander of theArmy of the Eastern Pyrenees,which was engaged in theWar of the PyreneesagainstSpain.His assignment was to retake the territory ofRoussillonfrom the Spanish army ofAntonio Ricardos Carrillo.He reorganized the army, weakened as it was by the hard combat of the preceding year spent incessantly and fruitlessly storming the Spanish positions. The Spanish became paralyzed by a leadership crisis following the successive deaths of Carrillo and his replacement,Alejandro O'Reilly,to disease, making Dugommier's task easier.

On 28 April, Dugommier was victorious at the Battle of Tech, followed by a success at the Battle of Albere on 30 April. He achieved a decisive victory against theCount of La Uniónat theBattle of Boulouon 1 May, which led to the recovery of Roussillon.Port-Vendreswas evacuated by La Unión (who had under his command 400 French noblemen of theLégion Panetier) in May.Colliourefell on 29 May after afour-week siege,in the course of which Dugommier was wounded.He repelled a Spanish assault on 13 August in theBattle of Sant Llorenç de la Muga,and retook theFort de Bellegardeon 17 September (the siege had lasted since 7 May).On 22 September, an audacious attack gave Dugommier the redoubt and camp ofCostouge,putting the Spanish army to flight and capturing most of its equipment.

Contemporary print of Dugommier's death at the Battle of the Black Mountain

Dugommier was killed by a Spanishartillery shellon 18 November at theBattle of the Black Mountain.His successor in command, GeneralDominique-Catherine Pérignon,ended the battle with a French victory on 20 November. Dugommier was buried under aliberty treein the Fort de Bellegarde on 19 November,and later reburied inPerpignan,where he rests in a pyramidal monument. On 25 November, the National Convention ordered his name to be engraved on a column of thePanthéonin Paris.Napoleon kept his souvenir, bestowing 100,000 Francs to his son for the memory of the Siege of Toulon.

Legacy

• His name is inscribed in the Panthéon.
• TheBoulevard DugommierinMarseilleis named in his honour.
• A stationof theParis Metrois named for him.