April 27, 1771 (Colmar) - November 8, 1821 (Rheinwiller, Baden-Baden)
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- Rapp, jean, comte
After solid studies, little tempted by the career of pastor for which he was destined, Rapp, a turbulent giant, joined the hunters of the Cévennes in March 1788. Elected second lieutenant in April 1794, he distinguished himself by his intrepidity and collected the wounds. Desaix's aide-de-camp at the end of 1796 and named captain, he followed him to Egypt and distinguished himself at Sediman on October 7, 1798, by seizing the enemy artillery, which earned him the promotion of chief of staff. squadrons. Appointed chef de brigade by Bonaparte, he left Egypt with Desaix, witnessed his death at Marengo (June 14, 1800) and became aide-de-camp to the First Consul. He will remain so until 1814. Bonaparte entrusts him with many missions in Vendée, Switzerland and Belgium. Brigadier General in 1803, he charged at Austerlitz at the head of his Mamelukes and routed the cavalry of the Russian Imperial Guard. General of division at Christmas 1804, he was in Jena, had his left arm shattered by a bullet at Golymin (December 26, 1806) and narrowly escaped amputation. Governor of Thom and then of Dantzig, he was made count of the Empire in March 1809. In Essling, he rectified the situation at the head of the riflemen of the guard. He followed the Emperor to Russia, was hit by four gunshots at the Moskva, wounded again at the Berezina, shut himself up in Dantzig on January 12, 1813 and only capitulated on November 29. Rallying to Napoleon during the Hundred Days, Rapp was elected by Haut-Rhin to the House of Representatives. He defends Alsace against the invader. Louis XVIII will name him peer of France in 1819, first chamberlain and master of the wardrobe in 1820. He dies shortly after Napoleon of a disease very similar to that of the Emperor, a squirre or cancer of the pylorus. Rapp's name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe