Clarke

Henry-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke (Landrecies, 17 October 1765 – Neuwiller la Roche, 28 October 1818)


Originally a cavalry officer, he was employed as chief of staff of the army of the Rhine in 1793, was arrested and then released. In 1795 he was appointed director of the topographical cabinet of the Committee of Public Safety. Promoted to lieutenant general in 1795, he was sent by the Directory on a secret mission to negotiate with Austria during the first Italian campaign. He took part in the coup of Brumaire, and soon afterwards became Director of the War Depot. He was then plenipotentiary minister in the Etrurian Kingdom, state councillor in 1804, secretary to Napoleon’s cabinet in 1805-1806. He was War Minister from 9 August 1807 to 1814, then from 1815 to 1817. He was created duke of Feltre in 1809, a Peer of France in 1814 and a marshal of France in 1816.