General Cambronne

General Pierre Jacques Étienne Cambronne.

He became Major of the Imperial Guard in 1814, and accompanied Napoléon into exile to the island of Elba, where he was a military commander. He then returned with Napoléon to France on 1 March 1815 for the Hundred Days, capturing the fortress of Sisteron (5 March), and was made a Count by Napoléon when they arrived at Paris.

In the Battle of Waterloo General Cambronne commanding the last of the Old Guard, he was summoned to surrender by British General Colville. A journalist named Rougement reported Cambronne's reply as "La garde meurt et ne se rend pas!" ("The Guard dies and does not surrender!"). These words became famous and were put on a Cambronne statue in Nantes after his death.

General Cambronne. EK Castings, tin, size 54mm.

 

General Cambronne. EK Castings, tin, size 54mm.