Claude-Étienne Michel

He may actually be the officer who uttered the words often attributed to Pierre Cambronne "La Garde meurt et ne se rend pas" "The Guard dies, and does not surrender".

He was a Sergeant Major by the 15th of the month and promoted to Sous-Lieutenant on March 4, 1792. then Lieutenant on the 22 August 1792, and was made a Captain on October 6, 1792 a rapid rise in a year.

During this year he was deployed on the borders of Switzerland; The 6th Jura Volunteers were moved to the army of the Rhine and Michel was taken prisoner by the Prussians on March 5, 1793 at Rheindürkheim.

The Gallo-Batavian army provided much opportunity of action due to a combined British and Russian invasion of the republic in the War of the Second Coalition and he fought at Schoorldam, holding his positions at the end of the day, being slightly wounded towards the close of the battle.

The 40th was part of the 3rd Division of Lannes' V Corps of the Grande Armée during the War of the Third Coalition and Michel's services at the battle of Austerlitz earned him, on December 27, 1805, the rank of Colonel and his admission, and transfer to, the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, on 1 May 1806.

He fought at the Battle of Friedland again held in reserve, and left for Spain after the Treaty of Tilsit ended the war with Russia and Prussia, shattering the Third Coalition.

In the Peninsular War He fought at Burgos on November 10, 1808 and was elevated to an Officier de la Légion d'Honneur for displaying great valour and the title of 'Baron of the Empire'.

Supported by the dragoons of General André Briche, he surprised the allies at St. Theobald, and despite the greater numbers available to them, pushed them south to St. Parres les Vaudes, away from Troyes.

At the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, Michel was part of the final assault on La Haye Sainte personally leading the 1st/3rd Chasseurs.