Baron Simon Bernard (; 28 April 1779 – 5 November 1839) was a French general of engineers. Born in Dole, Simon Bernard was educated at the

École polytechnique (, ; also known as Polytechnique or l'X ) is a ''grande école'' located in Palaiseau, France. It specializes in science and engineering and is a founding member of the Polytechnic Institute of Paris. The school was founded in 1794 by mat ...

, graduating as second in the promotion of 1799 and entered the army in the corps of engineers.

French military service

He rose rapidly, becoming a captain in 1800 and a major in 1809. After being involved in the works to the Port of Antwerp, Bernard served (1809–1812) as aide-de-camp to Napoléon. Promoted to colonel in 1813, he was wounded in the retreat after the battle of Leipzig and distinguished himself the same year (1813) in the gallant three month defense of the besieged city of Torgau against the allies. After Napoléon's first abdication he rallied to the Bourbons and was promoted to general de brigade by

Louis XVIII of France Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. Before his reign, he spent 23 ...

and made a knight of Saint Louis. Bernard was tasked by the minister of war Clarke with topographical work. After Napoléon's return from

Elba Elba (, ; ) is a Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, a ...

, Bernard rallied to the emperor and took part in the

battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (then in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium), marking the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The French Imperial Army (1804–1815), Frenc ...

in 1815.

Service in the United States Army

After the emperor's second abdication he was banished from France and, refusing an offer for employment from czar

Alexander I of Russia Alexander I (, ; – ), nicknamed "the Blessed", was Emperor of Russia from 1801, the first king of Congress Poland from 1815, and the grand duke of Finland from 1809 to his death in 1825. He ruled Russian Empire, Russia during the chaotic perio ...

, emigrated to the United States, where he was accepted as an assistant engineer with the rank and pay of a brigadier-general of engineers on November 16, 1816. He designed a number of extensive forts for the Army, notably Fort Monroe and Fort Wool in Virginia, Fort Adams in

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and nort ...

, Fort Morgan in Alabama, Fort McRee in Florida and Fort Pulaski in Georgia. During Marquis de LaFayette's famous trip to the United States in 1824–1825, the Marquis admired Fort Monroe, the Old Point Comfort stronghold which had also been designed by Bernard. Fort Monroe Aerial

During his time in America, he was a member of the prestigious Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, which counted among its members presidents

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before Presidency of Andrew Jackson, his presidency, he rose to fame as a general in the U.S. Army and served in both houses ...

and

John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams (; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth president of the United States, serving from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States secretary of state from 1817 to 1825. During his long diploma ...

and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions. In 1829, under the employ of the U.S. congress, Bernard completed a survey to discover the feasibility of a Cross Florida Canal. He resigned from the United States Army on July 10, 1831.

Return to France

He returned to France after the

July Revolution The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...

of 1830 and he was made a lieutenant-général by Louis Philippe I of France. He was named to the general committee on fortifications and was tasked with drafting the plans to improve the fortifications of

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. He was made a peer of France in 1834. He served twice as

minister of war A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

. In 1834 he held the post for eight days (10–18 November) and again from September 1836 to March 1839 under

Louis-Mathieu Molé Louis-Mathieu, comte Molé (; 24 January 1781 – 23 November 1855) was a French statesman and a close friend and associate of Louis Philippe I, King of the French during the July Monarchy (1830–1848). Biography Molé was born in Paris. ...

. General Bernard died in Paris on November 5, 1839.

References

;Attribution * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernard, Simon 1779 births 1839 deaths People from Dole, Jura Politicians from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Ministers of war of France Members of the Chamber of Peers of the July Monarchy French generals United States Army generals French commanders of the Napoleonic Wars Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour École Polytechnique alumni

French military service

Service in the United States Army

Return to France

See also

References