Jean Baptiste Drouet D'Erlon,, count, a French general, born in Rheims. July 29, 1765, died in Paris, Jan. 25, 1844. He entered the army as a private in 1782, was discharged in 1787, reentered it as a volunteer in 1792, became aide-de-camp to Gen. Lefevre, was present at the sieges of Valenciennes, Quesnoy, and Conde, and in 1797 at the investment of Ehrenbreitstein. He was made a general of brigade in 1799, and fought in that year in Switzerland, at Schaffhausen, Zurich, and Constance. He also served at Ulm, Hohenlin-den, and Steyer, and was made general of division in August, 1800. The success of the French arms at Jena was largely due to the skilful manoeuvres by which he defeated the Prussian column under Von Trescot. He further distinguished himself at the siege of Dantzic and the battles of Mohrungen and Friedland, and in 1807 received the title of count d'Erlon and a gift of 25,000 francs. He subsequently fought with distinction in the Tyrol and in the Peninsular war. After the first restoration he was given the command of the 16th division of the army, and received other honors; but in March, 1815, he was arrested for complicity in a conspiracy against Louis XVIII., and thrown into prison. The return of Napoleon from Elba soon gave him his liberty, and he resumed his command.

Napoleon made him a peer of France in June, 1815, and treated him with great favor until the battle of Waterloo. Here his apparent inaction, which he afterward sought to prove was the effect of contradictory orders, caused the emperor to reproach him bitterly. He resided at Munich ten years, and established a brewery there. When Charles X. in 1825 granted amnesty to those who had fought for the reestablishment of the empire, he returned to France. After the revolution of July, 1830, he became commander of the 12th military division, and in 1834 he was appointed governor general of the French possessions in Africa. In 1843 he was made a marshal of France.