Baron Emmanuel Felix de Wimpffen (13 September 1811 – 26 February 1884) was a French soldier and general of Austrian descent.
Emmanuel Félix de Wimpffen in 1870.
Biography
A member of the Wimpffen family, de Wimpffen was born in Laon, the illegitimate son of Baron Félix Victor Charles Emmanuel de Wimpffen by Cornélie Bréda. His father was a general in the French Army who had been created a Baron of the Empire in 1810. In 1836 he was recognized by his father.
Entering the army from the military school of Saint-Cyr, he saw considerable active service in Algeria, and in 1840 became captain; in 1847 chef de bataillon. He first earned marked distinction in the Crimean War as colonel of a Turco-Persian regiment, and his conduct at the storm of the Mamelon won him the grade of general of brigade.[1]
In the campaign of 1859 he was with General MacMahon at the battle of Magenta at the head of a brigade of Guard Infantry, and again won promotion on the battlefield. Between this campaign and the Franco-Prussian War, he was mainly employed in Algeria, and was not at first given a command in the ill-fated Army of the Rhine. But when the earlier battles revealed incapacity in the commander of the 5th corps, De Wimpffen was ordered to take it over, and was given a dormant commission appointing him to command the Army of Châlons in case of Marshal MacMahon's disablement. He only arrived at the front in time to rally the fugitives of the 5th Corps, beaten at Beaumont, and to march them to Sedan.[1]
In the disastrous Battle of Sedan on the first of September, MacMahon was soon wounded, and the senior officer, General Ducrot, assumed the command. Ducrot was beginning to withdraw the troops when Wimpffen produced his commission and countermanded the orders. In consequence it fell to him to negotiate the surrender of the whole French army.[1]
After his release from captivity, he lived in retirement at Algiers, and died at Paris in 1884. His later years were occupied with polemical discussions on the surrender of Sedan, the responsibility for which was laid upon him.[1]
He wrote, amongst other works, Sedan (1871), La Situation de la France, et les reformes necessaires (1873) and La Nation armée (1875).[1]
References
^ abcdeOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Wimpffen, Emmanuel Felix de". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 701.
emmanuel, félix, wimpffen, baron, emmanuel, felix, wimpffen, september, 1811, february, 1884, french, soldier, general, austrian, descent, 1870, biography, edita, member, wimpffen, family, wimpffen, born, laon, illegitimate, baron, félix, victor, charles, emma. Baron Emmanuel Felix de Wimpffen 13 September 1811 26 February 1884 was a French soldier and general of Austrian descent Emmanuel Felix de Wimpffen in 1870 Biography EditA member of the Wimpffen family de Wimpffen was born in Laon the illegitimate son of Baron Felix Victor Charles Emmanuel de Wimpffen by Cornelie Breda His father was a general in the French Army who had been created a Baron of the Empire in 1810 In 1836 he was recognized by his father Entering the army from the military school of Saint Cyr he saw considerable active service in Algeria and in 1840 became captain in 1847 chef de bataillon He first earned marked distinction in the Crimean War as colonel of a Turco Persian regiment and his conduct at the storm of the Mamelon won him the grade of general of brigade 1 In the campaign of 1859 he was with General MacMahon at the battle of Magenta at the head of a brigade of Guard Infantry and again won promotion on the battlefield Between this campaign and the Franco Prussian War he was mainly employed in Algeria and was not at first given a command in the ill fated Army of the Rhine But when the earlier battles revealed incapacity in the commander of the 5th corps De Wimpffen was ordered to take it over and was given a dormant commission appointing him to command the Army of Chalons in case of Marshal MacMahon s disablement He only arrived at the front in time to rally the fugitives of the 5th Corps beaten at Beaumont and to march them to Sedan 1 In the disastrous Battle of Sedan on the first of September MacMahon was soon wounded and the senior officer General Ducrot assumed the command Ducrot was beginning to withdraw the troops when Wimpffen produced his commission and countermanded the orders In consequence it fell to him to negotiate the surrender of the whole French army 1 After his release from captivity he lived in retirement at Algiers and died at Paris in 1884 His later years were occupied with polemical discussions on the surrender of Sedan the responsibility for which was laid upon him 1 He wrote amongst other works Sedan 1871 La Situation de la France et les reformes necessaires 1873 and La Nation armee 1875 1 References Edit a b c d e One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Wimpffen Emmanuel Felix de Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 701 External links Edithttp www wimpffen hu https web archive org web 20110719132951 http www wimpffen dk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emmanuel Felix de Wimpffen amp oldid 1153270572, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
