Dominique Joba

Dominique Joba (19 November 1759 – 6 September 1809) was a French engineer and infantry commander who rose to the rank of general during the First French Empire. He was killed in action at the Siege of Girona.

Early career In 1776, as a military engineer, Joba worked on the repairs to the fortress of Luxemburg. In 1778, he led the siege of Blokuts, Silesia and then, in 1783, worked on the fortifications along the Scheldt. He then joined the army under General Laudon and in 1789 he was at the Siege of Belgrade.

War in the Vendée

He was wounded at the Second Battle of Châtillon (October 1793) and at the Second Battle of Cholet.

War of the Second Coalition

In late December 1799, Joba headed one of the three brigades (the other two brigade generals were Sabatier and Roussel) based in Basel under Baraguey d'Hilliers's division of Saint-Cyr's Centre Corps of the Army of the Rhine and Moselle under Commander-in-Chief General Moreau.

On 1 May, these three brigade generals were still under the orders of Saint-Cyr and Baraguey d'Hilliers, By 10 May 1800, Joba's infantry brigade had joined the existing two brigades led by Generals Bonet and Bonnamy, when General Ney's division was expanded to some 6,900 troops and horse.

The following month, however, Ney's division had been reduced to the two brigades led by Bonet and Joba.

Joba, together with Generals of Brigade Bonet and Poissonnier made up Ney's 2nd Division (9,630 troops, 12 guns) on Grenier's Left Wing at the Battle of Hohenlinden (3 December).

Peninsular War

In May 1809, Joba commanded the 1st Brigade (2,365 troops) under Général de division Verdier's division at the siege of Girona. He was killed in action at the combat of San Gregorio, where he had been sent with three brigades to clear the main road to Figueras of the miqueletes led by Rovira and Claros.