About Gaëtan Bonnier
Lived 1857 – 1944 (aged 86). Gaëtan Bonnier was a French military personnel.
François Xavier Louis Henry Gaëtan Bonnier (3 December 1857 – 29 October 1944) was the first French general to learn to fly. During the First World War, Bonnier participated in the Battle of the Somme as the head of the 16th Colonial Infantry Division. From December 1917 to December 1919 he was the Commander of the colonial forces of French West Africa.
His older brother, Eugène Bonnier (1856–84), was also a soldier, and died during an expedition to Timbuktu when he was killed by a force of Tuaregs in a dawn massacre.
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Important facts
People in Gaëtan Bonnier's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Gaëtan Bonnier?
French general (1857–1944)
When was Gaëtan Bonnier born?
Gaëtan Bonnier was born on 3 December 1857 in Saint-Leu.
When did Gaëtan Bonnier die?
Gaëtan Bonnier died on 29 October 1944 in Le Cannet.
What was Gaëtan Bonnier's occupation?
Gaëtan Bonnier was a military personnel.
What nationality was Gaëtan Bonnier?
Gaëtan Bonnier was French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gaëtan Bonnier. https://biography.guide/gaetan-bonnier/
MLA: "Gaëtan Bonnier." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gaetan-bonnier/.
Chicago: "Gaëtan Bonnier." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gaetan-bonnier/.
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