Inspector general of the scholar battalions (1883)
Pierre Jean Joseph Jeanningros (21 November 1816 Besançon, France – 30 April 1902)[1] was a French général, famous for having commanded the French Foreign Legion.
On 8 September 1841 he was assigned as a Sous-Lieutenant to the 2nd Zouaves Regiment (French: 2e Régiment de Zouaves). He was accordingly promoted to lieutenant on 2 January 1842 and captain on 10 July 1847.
On 14 March 1852 he returned as captain to the 1st Zouaves Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Zouaves) and was designated as Capatain Adjudant Major on 3 May 1852.
Under a Ministerial decision, he was assigned as a colonel in the Foreign Regiment in Mexico (French: Mexique) and became superior commander of Veracruz (French: Veracruz) and the Hot Lands from 14 June 1863 to 26 February 1864. From 20 June 1865 he was assigned to the command of the subdivision of Monterrey (French: Monterrey), including the States of Cacahuiel and Leon (French: Léon).
On 1 August 1865 he was promoted to Général de brigade, commanding the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the same States. He retained simultaneously his position at the head of the Foreign Legion, until 31 May 1866. He was accordingly designated as superior commandant for the States of Querétaro (French: Querétaro) and Sierra.
On 23 October 1870 with the capitulation of the army at Metz he was made a prisoner of war and was interned in Germany at Aachen (French: Aix-la-Chapelle). He returned to France on 12 March 1871 where he was of disposition and availability.
On 11 June 1871 he was nominated to the command of the subdivision of Indre-et-Loire, at Tours.
On 17 August 1871 he was nominated to the command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division of the 4th Corps of the Army of Versailles (French: Armée de Versailles), by Ministerial decision.
On 16 June 1874 he became inspector general of the 13th Infantry Arrondissement and added progressively to this active command, the subdivisions of the regions of Bourg, Belley, and Langres. From 30 June 1876 to 2 July 1877 he was the inspector general of the 13th Infantry Arrondissement.
As of 21 November 1881 he was admitted by Presidential decision to the reserve section. On 23 November, on his demand, he was admitted to valorize his rights for retirement pension. He was officially retired by decree on 17 January 1882 after 48 years of service.
In 1883 he was designated as inspector general of the scholar battalion (French: bataillons scolaires). This patriotic movement regrouped institution members, interested in implementing basic physical culture and discipline to the young French people.
In 1889, he retired from all works.
Recognitions and Honors
His bravery during combats of the conquest of Algeria nicknamed him as "le Bayard des braves"
Wounded 6 times under fires, he totalized 4 citations.
A statue of the general was inaugurated on 15 August 1909 at Besançon, by the Minister of War at the époque, general Brun. In light of construction of a war memorial depicting the war of 1914/1918, the statue was moved. Fabricated in bronze, the occupation authorities ordered, in 1942, to melt it simultaneously along with that of Pierre Joseph Proudhon which was nearby.
^His Father Joseph-Marie Jeanningros was then officer. His Mother Françoise LLuesma, was of Spanish origin from Valence
References
Sources
La Dépêche Républicaine, 28 février 1902.
Le général Jeanningros, 1816–1902 (General Jeanningros, 1816–1902), René-Charles Plancke, Brie-Comte-Robert, 1974.
L'Est Républicain (East Republican), 30 mai 1986.
Le général Pierre Jeanningros, 1816–1902, colonel commandant le régiment étranger à Camerone (General Pierre Jeanningros, 1816–1902, colonel commandant the Foreign Regiment at Cameron), Michel Jeanningros, Besançon, 1986.
Dictionnaire biographique du Doubs, Max Roche et Michel Vernus, Lons-le-Saunier, 1997.
Camerone Pierre Sergent (military), Fayard, 1979.
Dossier du Général Jeanningros, Defense historic service.