French general and African explorer, born at Thoissey (Ain) on the 22nd of November 1863. After four years’ service in the ranks, he was, in March 1887, appointed a sub-lieutenant. In 1889 he was on active service in Senegal, was twice wounded and made a chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He was promoted lieutenant in January 1890, captain in 1892, and commandant (chef de bataillon) in 1898. In the latter year he carried out his historic march on and occupation of Fashoda, and for this he was promoted to the high grade of commander in the Legion of Honour, having been previously (July 1895) raised from the grade of chevalier to that of officer. In January 1900 he became lieutenant-colonel, and was made colonel two years later. On the outbreak of war in August 1914 he was serving on the staff of the governor of Belfort; but in September he was appointed to command the Colonial Bde. of the XIV. Corps. He distinguished himself in that capacity, was cited in army orders, and in February 1915 was promoted a temporary-general of brigade. The following May he assumed command of the 10th (Colonial) Division. He was wounded in September 1915, and was made a grand officer of the Legion of Honour. On March 25, 1916, he was made a substantive-general of brigade. In the following October he was again wounded, and on March 17, 1917, received a second mention for distinguished service. On April 4, 1917, he was promoted general of division and confirmed in his appointment as commander of the 10th Colonial Division—an appointment which he held throughout the later campaigns on the western front. He retired from the army in 1919 with a high reputation as a leader of troops in battle. He was given the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour in 1920.
