GERARD, MAURICE-ETIENNE, COMTE, Marshal of France, was a native of Dauvilliera, in the department of the Meuse, and was born April 4, 1773. He entered the army as a volunteer in 1791, and first saw fire under Jourdan, at Fleurus. He was already a captain in 1793, and Bernadette, who was for many years his steadfast friend, appointed him soon after one of his aides-de-camp. After the treaty of Campo Formio he attended that general in his embassy to Vienna, and having saved his life during a riot, stimulated by the Austrian police, a lasting friendship was established between them. In 1799 he became a chetd'eseadron; and at the battle of Austerlitz (Dec. 2, 1805) his good conduct was so conspicuous that he received the Cross of the Legion of Honour on the field.
In 1S06 Gerard was appointed to a brigade ; and in 1S09, at tho battle of Wagram, Bernadotte gave him the command of the Saxon cavalry. Ho next went to serve in Spain, where he continued until October 1811, having been present at the battle of Albuera and several others.
Called to take part iu the expedition against Russia in 1812, ho contributed to the capture of Smolensko ; and during the disastrous retreat which followed the burning of Moscow he was placed as second in command, under Marshal Ney, in the rear of the army. General Gerard distinguished himself by many proofs of valour at the passage of the Beresina, where, with a few regiments greatly reduced iu num bers, and consisting of half-famished men, he repeatedly sustained the shock of an entire army.- In 1813 he commanded one of the divisions of the 11th corps, under Marshal Macdonald : he was present at the battle of Bautzen, and his exertions, which were made on the impulse of the moment and without orders, accelerated the victory. He charged the enemy again without (or rather contrary to) orders at Goldsberg, and routed the Prussians with great slaughter, for which feat of arms the emperor gave him the command of the 11th corps.
General Gerard was several times wounded, and very grievously at the battle of Leipzic, October 18, 1813. During the defence of the French territory in 1814, his zeal and intrepidity were frequently commended by Napoleon, especially at the victory of 3Iontereau. After his return from Elba, in 1815, the emperor gaye him the com mand of the-army of tho Moselle. On the 18th of June ho was under the orders of Marshal Grouchy at Wavres, and when the report of the cannon was heard proceeding from the forest of Soignies, Gerard recommended an immediate advauce of Grouchy's army of reserve in that direction.
On the return of Louis XVIII., Gerard retired to Belgium, where iu 1816 he married the daughter of General Valence. The following year he was permitted to return to France. Iu 1830 Louie Philippe created him marshal of France, and appointed him minister of war, but his health compelled him to resign this office a few mouths later. Ia 1832 he was sent to besiege the fortress of Autwerp, defended by the Dutch general Chasse, when, having compelled the garrison to capitulate after a gallant defence, he returned to Frauce and was made a peer. In 1834 the citizen king made him president of the council, or prime minister ; but his declining health obliged him to resign this office on the 29th of October, after which ho withdrew into private life. The provisional government of February 21, 1848, raised Marshal Gerard to the function of Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour. The marshal lived to see the restoration of the Bonaparte dynasty : he died at Paris, August 17, 1852, and was interred in the chapel of the Invalides.