General Jeanningros

Overview

Pierre Jean Joseph Jeanningros (21 November 1816, Besançon – 30 April 1902) was a French general celebrated for his command of the French Foreign Legion during the Mexican Intervention (1863–1864). He was promoted to Général de brigade in 1865 and Général de division in 1873. He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour in 1877. He was known for personal courage — wounded six times in combat — and was nicknamed "le Bayard des braves" (the Bayard of the brave). By 1880, he was in his mid-sixties, retired from active command, and appearing in Parisian social circles.

Relevance to Marie

Marie encountered General Jeanningros at the Mouzay soiree on 26 May 1880. She was struck by his appearance: "belle tête de soldat, de brave" (a fine soldier's head, a brave man's head), but less impressed by his family, whom she dismissed as "des cuisinières" (kitchen maids).

References in Diary

• 1880-05-26: Encountered at the Mouzay soiree; Marie praises his face and bearing.

Sources

Wikipedia: Pierre Joseph Jeanningros