Eugène Antoine François Merlin

Antoine François Eugène Merlin (; 27 December 1778 – 31 August 1854) was a French soldier and general of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who fought in central Europe, the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. Later in life, he became a politician and sat in the Chamber of Deputies as a supporter of the July Monarchy.

Early life and career

Antoine François Eugène Merlin was born in Douai on 27 December 1778, the son of lawyer and politician Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai and Jeanne Brigitte Dumouceaux. He first entered military service in 1793 aged 14, attached to the staff of General Cambray during the war in the Vendée. On 30 October 1795, he joined the 7th Chasseurs a Cheval as a Second Lieutenant, became aide-de-camp to General Songis on 10 December 1795, and spent the next two years serving in the Army of the North.

In 1798, Merlin took part in the French invasion of Egypt, acting as an aide-de-camp to General Bonaparte. He fought at the battle of the Pyramids, the capture of Katieh (where he was provisionally promoted to Lieutenant), the sieges of Jaffa and Acre, and the battle of Abukir. He returned to France with his commander in 1799.

First empire In 1805, Merlin's regiment was recalled to the Grande Armée and he served in it for the next three years, fighting at the battles of Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland. Joining his regiment in Spain, he distinguished himself at Sabugal, where he dispersed a British regiment and recaptured an artillery piece they had just captured. For this feat, he was made an officer of the Legion of Honour. In October 1812, his regiment was transferred to General Curto's brigade of the Army of Portugal. On 14 July 1813 he was promoted to Général de Brigade and recalled to the Grande Armee in Saxony.

Post war career

After the Second Restoration, Merlin went into exile with his father, who was one of 38 men outlawed by the new regime. The two men boarded the American vessel Alice in Antwerp and set sail for the United States, but were shipwrecked near Vlissingen in the mouth of the Scheldt on 24 February 1816.