MenuGeneral Jean Henri Becays Ferrand
Born: September 10, 1736
Place of Birth: Lacaussade, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Died: November 28, 1805
Place of Death: Clichy-la-Garenne, France
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Born into a noble family, Jean Henri Becays Ferrand first joined the army in 1746 as a lieutenant in the infantry regiment of Normandy at the young age of ten. Still very young to be serving, in 1747 and 1748 he saw action during the War of the Austrian Succession at Lawfeld, Berg op Zoom, Lillo, and Maestricht. Ferrand next saw action during the Seven Years War, receiving a promotion to capitaine in 1755 and then being wounded in 1760 at Clostercamp. In 1760 and 1761 he served in Flanders. After the conclusion of that war, Ferrand stayed with the army and in 1773 he was appointed a major at Valenciennes.
Ferrand was still serving at Valenciennes at the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. Two years later in 1791 he was appointed colonel of the National Guard of Valenciennes, and then in August of 1792 he was named commander of Valenciennes. Later that month General Dumouriez promoted Ferrand to maréchal de camp and took Ferrand with him to the Army of the North. Ferrand seized Saint-Amand in September and then commanded the left wing at the Battle of Jemappes in November.
In March of 1793 General Ferrand was named commander of Valenciennes again and then two months later he was promoted to général de division. Ferrand set out to direct the defense of Valenciennes, keeping the city out of the hands of the Austrian forces. He was finally forced to surrender the city at the end of July and he was taken prisoner. However, he was immediately released on the condition that he not fight against the coalition forces, and he agreed. Due to Ferrand's noble birth, he was arrested the following month in August of 1793 but he managed to survive the Reign of Terror, being freed in 1794 after the Thermidorian Reaction brought down Robespierre. Ferrand eventually retired from the army in 1800 and later served as a prefect.
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Updated June 2026
© Nathan D. Jensen