Laurent, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr (1764-1830)
The son of a tanner, Laurent Saint-Cyr joined the Republican army in 1792 and in two years rose to major-general, commanding a division in the Army of the Rhine. During the Russian Campaign, he was charged with securing the northern flank of the invasion and managed to survive the army’s catastrophic retreat. Captured during the Leipzig Campaign, he eventually returned to France in 1814 to be named a Peer by Louis XVIII. He took no part in the Hundred Days and upon Louis’ restoration continued his army career as Minister of War.