Dumouriez, General

(1739-1823) (Charles-François du Périer)

   military figure

   one of the most important and controversial generals of the revolution of 1789, Charles-François du Périer, or General Dumouriez, as he is known, became an officer in 1758 and fought in the Seven Years' War. In 1763, he joined the diplomatic espionage service and was sent by the duke of choiseul on several missions. Head of the National Guard, Dumouriez, having embraced the principles of the revolution, as well as having ties to the count of mirabeau, the marquis de la fayette, and the duke of orléans, and, being a member of the jacobin Club (1790), would be named foreign minister during the Girondin government (1792) and helped to encourage King louis XVI to declare war against the coalition of forces invading France. After the recall of the girondin ministers (June 13), he resigned (June 15). Commander in chief of the Armies of the North, with General François kellermann he won the celebrated Battle of Valmy against the Prussians, then that of Jemmappes against the Austrians, then occupied Belgium. After the formation of the First Coalition (February 1793), Dumouriez proposed an offensive plan that was adopted, entering into Holland (February 16), and seizing Breda (February 25), but he was defeated at Neerwinden (March 18), then again at Louvain (March 21) by the duke of Saxe-Coburg, with whom he had entered into negotiations. Accused of treason, Dumouriez handed over to the Austrians the commissioners sent by the Convention to inquire into his conduct, before he himself went over to the enemy's side. His defeats and the consequences (the loss of Belgium and Holland, then the left bank of the Rhine) contributed to the fall of the Girondins. Dumouriez died in exile in England.