Jean Bureau

Jean Bureau (c. 1390 – 1463) was a French artillery commander active primarily during the later years of the Hundred Years' War. Along with his brother, Gaspard, he is credited with making French artillery the most effective in the world. As Master Gunner of Artillery in the armies of Charles VII, Bureau acquired a reputation as an effective artillery officer during the Normandy campaign (1449–1450), when his bombardments helped capture the towns of Rouen, Harfleur, and Honfleur, and aided in the French victory at Formigny. Bureau commanded the victorious French army at the decisive Battle of Castillon in 1453. In 1420, he moved to Paris to work as a lawyer. He was a legal official at the Châtelet during the occupation of Paris by the Duke of Bedford.

Described as a "perfectionist with a methodical, mathematical mind" and "an imaginative technician who knew how to get the best out of his primitive weapons", Bureau likely learned the artillery trade for its commercial potential. Jean was also appointed "Receiver of Paris" in 1436, "Treasurer of France" in 1443,

The Bureaus' artillery had an immediate impact, aiding the French in the sieges of Montereau (1437), Meaux (1439), Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1440), and Pontoise (1441). Sir John Talbot, reoccupied Bordeaux with an English force of 3,000. Within a few months, he had regained control of much of the Gascony region. Remembering the loss of his cannons at Formigny, he attached a force of archers in the woods adjacent to his position to protect the cannons from capture. Talbot arrived with a relief force on 17 July, and routed a small advanced force of French archers. Mistakenly believing the French were retreating, he attacked the French camp, and his army was decimated by Bureau's cannon fire. Talbot's horse was hit by a cannonball, and he was killed by a French archer shortly after.

Later life

After the war, Bureau was ennobled as the Lord of Montglas. He was knighted in 1461. He and his brother continued to serve as advisors to Charles' son and successor, Louis XI, even though Louis dismissed most of Charles' staff. Bureau died in 1463.