Augustin-Marie Picot

Auguste Marie Henri Picot, Marquis de Dampierre (19 August 1756 – 9 may 1793) was a general of the French Revolution.

Picot was born in Paris into a military family and at an early age he was commissioned as an officer in the French Guard. He travelled to England and then to Berlin, where he studied Prussian military tactics. He became an admirer of Frederick II of Prussia, imitating him even down to the smallest detail, such as to appearing at court with a long tailed coat, which earned him a mockery from Louis XVI.

At the outbreak of the revolution, he was sympathetic to the new revolutionary ideas and resumed his military career. He became aide-de-camp to Rochambeau and then in April 1792 was made Colonel of the 5th dragoons under Biron. At the battle of Quiévrain (May 1793) he was trampled by a horse whilst attempting to rally his routed troops.

At the battle of Valmy, he commanded a division of the army of Dumouriez, but he became famous for his exploits at the Battle of Jemappes. Marching at the head of the Flanders regiment and a battalion of Paris volunteers, he attacked six enemy battalions threatening Beurnonville and alling Beurnonville's successful advance.

He died in Valenciennes in 1793.