Republican general who led the Army of Mainz and broke the Vendéan army at Le Mans and Savenay
Born in 1753 in Strasbourg, the son of a master builder, he studied architecture, served seven years as an officer of the Holy Roman Emperor and returned as inspector of public buildings at Belfort. He enlisted in the Haut-Rhin volunteers in 1792, won renown in the defence of Mainz in 1793 and was sent as a brigade general with the Army of Mainz to the Vendée. Beaten at Torfou, he contributed to the victory at Cholet in October, was promoted divisional general and, with Marceau, destroyed the Catholic and Royal Army at Le Mans and Savenay in December. In January 1794 Turreau rejected his plan to win the inhabitants’ trust and attack only rebel gatherings, and his opinion that the Vendéans deserved lenient measures got him recalled. He later fought at Fleurus and on the Rhine, commanded the army in Egypt and was assassinated in Cairo on 14 June 1800.
Also known as: Jean-Baptiste Kleber
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1777–1783Officer in the army of the Holy Roman Emperor
- 1784–1792Inspector of public buildings at Belfort
- 1793Defence of Mainz; brigade general
- 1793–1794Led the Army of Mainz in the Vendée: Cholet, Le Mans, Savenay
- 1794–1797Army of Sambre and Meuse; Fleurus and the Rhine
- 1799–1800Commander in chief of the French army in Egypt