DUPONT, Pierre Antoine, COUNT, sur named DE L'ETANG, French soldier : b. Chabanais, 14 July 1765; d. Paris, 7 March 18441 He first served with Maillebois' legion in Holland and in 1791 was on the staff of the Army of the North under Dillon. By his skilful arrangement as a staff officer, he prevented Denmark from falling into the hands of the Duke of York and was promoted to the rank of briedier-general. In 1797 he became general of division. After the proceedings of the 18th Brumaire, in which he took an active part, he was appointed head of the general etat-major of the army of reserve assembled at the foot of the Alps and dis tinguished himself in Italy at the battle of Marengo. In the campaign of 1805 on the Danube, he earned further distinction by pre venting the escape of the Austrians from Ulm, thus contributing largely to the capture of Mack and his army. He also freed. Marshal Monier from Russian troops. He was active in the campaign of 1806 against the Prussians and in 1807 contributed to the victory of Friedland. He entered Spain in 1808 at the head of a corps. After the occupation of Madrid, Dupont was created count by Napoleon and dispatched to subdue Andalusia. He was pursued and cut
off by Castafios, his corps was defeated and on 22 July 1808 he felt himself constrained to capitulate with 18,000 soldiers at Baylera. After his return to France, Dupont was sent before a court-martial, deprived of his rank and title and imprisoned from 1812 to 1814. On the fall of Napoleon he was released and was given a mili tary command by Louis XVIII, which he lost on the return of Napoleon. He was restored once more to the army after the final downfall of Napoleon and became a member of the Privy Council of Louis XVIII, From 1815 to 1830 he was member of the Chamber of Deputies from Charente. He went into retirement in 1832. He wrote some poems (1838) and verse translations from Horace (1836) and the military works 'Opinioin sur le nouveau mode de recrutement) (1818) ; 'Lewes sur l'Espagne en 1808) (1823) ; 'Lettre sur la campagne d'Autriche) (1826). Consult Titeux