Jacques Coquille, a.k.a. Dugommier

Born in Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) on August 1, 1738, Jacques François Coquille, known as Dugommier, retired after twenty-five years of service in the colonies, where he devoted himself to farming.

In 1789, an enthusiastic supporter of equality and fraternity, he was elected member of the colonial assembly and commander of the island's national guard.

In 1792, Dugommier became a deputy to the Convention. He then applied for a position in the army, and was appointed general on the recommendation of Jean-Paul Marat, and sent to the Army of Italy. He was entrusted with the siege of Toulon. He was the first to praise citizen Buonaparte in an official report.

He was then given command of the Pyrénées-Orientales army, where he was killed on November 18, 1794 at the battle of Sierra Negra, near Figueras.

The Convention ordered that his name be inscribed on one of the columns of the Pantheon .

Dugommier's name is also inscribed on the 33rd column (west pillar) of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile .

According to one of Dugommier's former aides-de-camp, Napoleon Bonaparte loved the general dearly.