MenuFrançois Charles Michel Leturcq
Born: February 10, 1769
Place of Birth: Boynes, Loiret, France
Died: July 25, 1799
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Place of Death: Abukir, Egypt
Arc de Triomphe: LETURC on the south pillar
Enlisting in the army as a dragoon in October of 1795, François Charles Michel Leturcq joined the regiment of Languedoc. Four years later in 1789 he joined the 5th Cavalry and then in mid-October of 1792 he was commissioned as a sous-lieutenant and a year after that he was promoted to lieutenant. During this time Leturcq served with the Army of Belgium and the Army of the North and then in 1794 he served with the Army of the Sambre and Meuse. Next his regiment served with the Army of the Moselle and the Army of the Rhine and then in 1796 they joined the Army of Italy. In the late summer of that year Leturcq became an aide-de-camp to General Berthier and then in October he was promoted to capitaine. In January of 1797 he was promoted to chef d'escadron.
In 1798 Leturcq joined the Army of Egypt. After arriving in Egypt, that August he distinguished himself at the Battle of Salayeh. At some point during his career in Egypt he was promoted to chef de brigade, and it may have been on this battlefield or shortly thereafter. Next Leturcq took command of Ramanieh and the province of Bahiré before pursuing the rebels of Damanhour. In April of 1799 he served at the Battle of Mount Tabor where he distinguished himself by taking 500 camels and 250 prisoners. Leturcq served at the Battle of Abukir in July. During that battle, he determined more infantry was needed to attack the second line of the Turks, and General Bonaparte gave him command of a battalion of the 75th demi-brigade. Leturcq went into battle and attempted to lead a column of the 18th demi-brigade into an attack on the enemy positions when he was killed. One of the forts of Alexandria was later named after him.
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Updated September 2021
© Nathan D. Jensen