LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE, THEOPHILE MALO (1743-180o), French soldier, was born at Carhaix in Brittany on Dec. 23, the son of an advocate named Corret. In 1771 he assumed the surname of La Tour d'Auvergne, being descended from an illegitimate half-brother of the great Turenne. He entered the army in 1767, and in the early part of the Revolution he opposed the proposals of his brother officers in the Angoumois regiment to emigrate rather than to swear to the constitution. In 5792 his lifelong interest in numismatics and questions of lan guage was shown by a work which he published on the Bretons while serving under Montesquiou in the Alps. After fighting in the Pyrenees his health broke down and he retired in 1795. On his return by sea to Brittany he was captured by the English and held prisoner for two years. When released, he settled at Passy and published Origines gauloises, but in 1797 he served, with the rank of captain, as substitute for a friend, on the Rhine (1797) and in Switzerland (1798-9), and was named by Carnot "first grenadier of France" (April 27, 1800). He was killed in action at
Oberhausen, near Donauworth, on June 27, 1800.
La Tour d'Auvergne's almost legendary courage had captivated the imagination of the French soldier, and his memory was not suffered to die. It was customary for the French troops and their allies of the Rhine Confederation under Napoleon to march at attention when passing his burial-place on the battlefield. The most striking tribute to his memory is paid to-day as it was by order of the first consul in 1800 on all occasions when the colour is taken on parade. "His name is to be kept on the pay list and roll of his company. It will be called at all parades and a non commissioned officer will reply, Mort au champ d'honneur."