Franz Adam Karrer (1666 – 1740) was a Swiss officer,

brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

in French service, and founder and first colonel-proprietor of the Swiss regiment de Karrer on 15 December 1719. He became a Knight of the

Order of Saint Louis The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis () is a dynastic order of chivalry founded 5 April 1693 by King Louis XIV, named after Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France). It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, notable as the fi ...

in 1709.

Military career

Karrer became

officer cadet Officer cadet is a rank held by military personnel during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by personnel of University Service Units such as the University Officers' Training Corps. Th ...

in an independent

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...

in French service in 1686 and was commissioned as an ensign in the Swiss regiment von Salis-Soglio in French service in 1691. From there he became a lieutenant in 1693, and captain-lieutenant in 1698. Also in 1698, he became commanding officer of a half-company, eventually becoming proprietor of a half-company 1709 and captain of

grenadiers A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word ''grenade'') was historically an assault-specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in siege operation battles. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when ...

1710. Karrer entered a capitulation with the King of France on 15 December 1719, raising a regiment of

foot The foot (: feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is an organ at the terminal part of the leg made up o ...

for French service, the ''Régiment de Karrer, '' becoming

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

in 1720, and

in 1734. In 1736 he transferred the proprietorship of the regiment to his son Ludwig Ignaz Karrer.

Personal life

Karrer was born in Landser, Haut-Rhin, Alsace on 22 November 1666. He was married to Johanna Marguerite de Voile before 1703, the daughter of a

bailiff A bailiff is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. There are different kinds, and their offices and scope of duties vary. Another official sometimes referred to as a '' ...

(chief court official) in

Alsace Alsace (, ; ) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in the Grand Est administrative region of northeastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine, next to Germany and Switzerland. In January 2021, it had a population of 1,9 ...

. He died on 3 May 1740 in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France.

Military career

Personal life

References

Further reading