Commander of the 7th Corps captured at Sedan who led the Versailles 4th Corps first into Paris in May 1871
Born in Paris in 1816, he enlisted at sixteen as a private in the marines. He fought in the Antilles and Algeria, at Rome, in the Crimea, Italy and Mexico, and was made brigadier general for bravery at Magenta and Solferino. In Mexico he commanded a division of the expeditionary corps and sharply criticised Marshal Bazaine. An aide-de-camp of Napoleon III, he commanded the 7th Corps in the war of 1870 and was taken prisoner at Sedan. In 1871 he led the 4th Corps of the Versailles army against the Commune and on 21 May was first into Paris through the Porte de Saint-Cloud, opening the Bloody Week. From 1873 until his death he commanded the 6th Corps at Châlons-sur-Marne.
Also known as: Félix-Charles Douay
Activities and affiliations
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1832–1879
France state institutionsCorps commanderMain
Military command
Career Timeline
- 1859Magenta and Solferino; promoted brigadier general
- 1870Commander of the 7th Corps; captured at Sedan
- 1871Commander of the Versailles 4th Corps; entered Paris
- 1873–1879Commander of the 6th Corps at Châlons-sur-Marne