Louis-Alexandre Berthier (Versailles, 20 November 1753 – Bamberg, 1 June 1815)
Son of Jean-Baptiste, that influential Director of the War Depot from 1756 to 1772, he enrolled in the army as a geographical-engineer in 1766 and took part in the American War of Independence. He was then an officer in the General Staff, La Fayette’s and Luckner’s chief of staff in 1792; promoted to lieutenant general in 1795, he was Bonaparte’s chief of staff from 1796 to 1814. He participated in the Brumaire coup and was appointed War Minister (from 11 November 1799 to 19 August 1807, except for the period between 2 April and 8 October 1800). He became a marshal of France, then prince of Neuchâtel and of Wagram.