Albert Édouard Le Brethon de Caligny
Albert Édouard Le Brethon de Caligny | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1833 Pont-l'Évêque, Calvados |
| Died | 17 January 1863 (aged 29) Shaoxing |
| Allegiance |  France Qing Empire |
| Service/ |  French NavyMilitary of the Qing dynasty |
| Years of service | 1853 - 1863 |
| Rank | Lieutenant de vaisseau |
Albert Édouard Le Brethon de Caligny (11 December 1833 Pont-l'Évêque, Calvados – 17 January 1863, Shaoxing) was a French Navy officer and founder of the Ever Victorious Army.
Career[edit]
After studies at the École Polytechnique, Le Brethon joined the French Navy, rising to midshipman in 1855. He served on Persévérante and on Lavoisier before rising to Ensign on 9 October 1857.[1]
He took part in the Italian unification on Tempête in 1859 before transferring on the frigate Forte the next year. He distinguished himself during the Battle of Shanghai while leading a landing party, and was awarded command of Confucius.[1]
Promoted to Lieutenant on 10 May 1862, Le Brethon was tasked to instruct locally recruited troops, leading to the training of the Ever Victorious Army.[2] From October, he commanded a mixed troop of French and Chinese soldiers fighting the Taiping Rebellion.[1] On 17 January 1863, he was killed at Shaoxing by the explosion of an artillery piece.[3]
Posthumously promoted to general in the Chinese Army, he was buried at Kangpo.[1] The gunboat Aigrette was renamed to Le Brethon in his honour.
Notes, citations, and references[edit]
- Notes
- Citations
- ^ Gazette de Changhai - 5 : Les malheurs de la Concession continuent : le deuxième assaut des Taiping, Consulat général de France à Shanghai
- ^ Roche, vol.1, p.85
- References
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 1 1671 - 1870. p. 85. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
- LE BRETHON de COLIGNY Albert, Édouard, MÉMORIAL DES OFFICIERS DE MARINE