COMMANDER // 1765–1813
Jean-Baptiste Olivier
divisional generalFrance1 battle1 war
Lifespan
1765 – 1813
Active service 1799 — 1 battle across 1 war; first command at age 34.
Profile
Jean-Baptiste Olivier enlisted in the French Royal Army as foot soldier in 1781. During the French Revolutionary Wars he was promoted general of brigade, fighting at Kaiserslautern, Fleurus, and Neuwied. He famously observed the action at Fleurus from a hot air balloon. In 1799 he transferred to the Army of Naples as a general of division. He fought at the Trebbia where he was severely wounded, losing a leg. During the Napoleonic Wars he held military commands in the interior and was appointed Baron of the Empire and Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur. He died in 1813. Olivier is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe.
Battles (1)
1799