François Werlé

François Jean Werlé (6 September 1763 – 16 May 1811) was a "Général de Brigade" of the First French Empire who saw action during the Napoleonic Wars and died fighting against the British during the Peninsular War.

Early career

Werlé received the rank of "Chef de Brigade" on 25 March 1799 and promoted to "Général de Brigade" on 29 August 1803. He commanded a brigade in Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte d'Erlon's division of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte's I Corps at the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1806, still serving as an I Corps brigadier, he participated in the pursuit of the Prussian Army after Emperor Napoleon's army defeated it at the battles of Jena and Auerstädt. He was present in the defeat of the Duke Eugen von Württemberg's corps at the Battle of Halle and in the defeat and capture of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher's column in the Battle of Lübeck.

Peninsula

In November 1809, Werlé led a Polish division in IV Corps at the decisive French victory at the Battle of Ocana. His 5,600-man brigade (actually the size of a division) formed the French reserve at the Battle of Albuera. He was killed in that battle when Marshal Soult sent the reserve into the battle. After a bitter firefight with Lowry Cole's British division, Werlé's French soldiers were defeated.

Aside from his military rank, Werlé became a Commander of the Légion d'Honneur on 14 June 1804, and was made a Baron of the Empire on 27 November 1808.

References

* Smith, Digby. "The Napoleonic Wars Data Book." London: Greenhill, 1993. ISBN 1-85367-276-9
* Zimmermann, Dick. "The Battle of Ocana," Wargamer's Digest magazine. v. 6, no. 1, Nov. 1979.
*citation
last = Broughton
first = Tony
publication-date = 2007
date = 2007
year = 2007
title = Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789 – 1814: Walther to Wurmser
publisher = The Napoleon Series
url = http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/frenchgenerals/c_frenchgenerals41.html
accessdate = 13 December, 2007;

Persondata
NAME = Werlé, François Jean
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = French General
DATE OF BIRTH = 6 September 1763
PLACE OF BIRTH =
DATE OF DEATH = 16 May 1811
PLACE OF DEATH = Albuera