MenuGeneral Jean Charles Roussel
Born: September 25, 1771
Place of Birth: Paris, Paris, France
Died: July 26, 1812
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Place of Death: Ostrowno, Russia
Arc de Triomphe: ROUSSEL on the east pillar
Pronunciation:
Jean Charles Roussel first joined the army in July of 1791 when he volunteered to join the 1st Battalion of Volunteers of Paris. Appointed a sergeant, he was sent to the Army of the North where he received promotions to sous-lieutenant and then lieutenant in 1793. In 1794 Roussel was sent to the Army of the Rhine and Moselle where he became an aide-de-camp to General Reneauld. Two years later he received a promotion to capitaine in the 76th of the Line and then in 1797 he joined the Army of Switzerland.
Roussel remained with the Army of Switzerland until 1799 when he joined the Army of Italy and became an aide-de-camp to General Partouneaux. That June he also received a promotion to chef de bataillon in the 6th of the Line and then he fought near San-Giuliano where he was wounded by a shot to the head. In December of 1799 Roussel fought at Monte-Faccio near Genoa and then the next day he was promoted to chef de brigade of the 106th of the Line. A year later he fought at Vasto where he was wounded by a shot to the chest.
During the years of peace that followed, Roussel was placed in garrison at Brescia in Italy. When the campaigns began in 1805, he was assigned to the Army of Italy where he remained for a number of years. As Austria prepared for war in 1809, Roussel was promoted to général de brigade and given command of the 2nd Brigade of Seras' division. During the campaign that followed he fought at Sacile in April, Saint-Michel in May, and Raab in June and afterwards he was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor. Roussel continued to serve in Italy and he was created a Baron of the Empire in 1810.
For the campaign against Russia of 1812, Roussel took command of the 2nd Brigade of Delzons' 13th Division in Prince Eugène's IV Corps in the Grande Armée. While on campaign he visited the advance posts at night to reconnoiter the enemy positions near Ostrowno. As he was returning to the French camp, a French sentry mistook him for the enemy and shot and killed him.
Bibliography
- Divry, Arnauld. Les Noms Gravés sur l'Arc de Triomphe. Paris: L'Harmattan, 2017.
- Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Généraux & Amiraux Français de la Révolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). 2 vols. Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.
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Updated June 2026
© Nathan D. Jensen