DROUET D'ERLON, JEAN-BAPTISTE, was born at Rheims, on the 29th of July 1765. At the age of seventeen he enlisted as a private soldier, and, progressively rising by his merit, became aide-de camp to General Leftvre, August 14, 1794. He was present at the siege of Valenciennes, and at those of Condd and Quesnay. After an arduous service of eight years under Pichegru, Hoche, and Moreau, he took part as general of brigade in the battle of Zurich under Massone, and was present at the capture of Conbtauz. After the battle of Hohenlinden, in which he considerably distinguished him self, he was made general of division, August 27, 1800. On Oc tober 14, 1806, his well-timed attack on a Prussian column, con tributed to victory of Jena. His skill was conspicuous in the attack and defence of fortified places, and at the siege of Dantzig his exertions were praised by Napoleon himself, who, after the battle of Friedland, iu 1807, in which he was badly wounded, bestowed on him the grand cross of the Legion of Honour, with the title of Count d'Erlon, and a pension of 25,000 francs. General Drouet was eugdged in the Peninsular war; and at the Col-de-Maya, according to French accounts, he defeated Lord Hill, June 22, 1811. After the restoration of Louis XVIII., he received the command of the 16th Military
Division, and was made president of the court-martial by which Excelmans was tried and acquitted. But soon after, being suspected of a share in the conspiracy of General Lefebre-Desnouettes, he was arrested by orders of his former friend, the Duc de Feltre. The escape of Napoleon from Elba, March 1815, restored him however to liberty. General Drouet was at Waterloo, but, from somo mistake, his corps was not brought into action. After this battle he retired to Germany, but returned to Franco after the amnesty which followed the coronation of Charles X,, May 28, 1825. In 1830, after the revo lution of July and the accession of Louis Philippe, the name of the Count d'Erlon was replaced on the Army List, and he received the command of the 12th Military Division, stationed at Nantes, where he was present at the arrest of the Duchess of Berry. In 1834 be was appointed governor-general of Algeria, and on the 9th of April 1843 marshal of France. He diod on the 25th of January 1844, having been constantly engaged during the wars for 21 years, and 58 years in the service of the French armies.