1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Marchand, Jean-Baptiste

MARCHAND, JEAN-BAPTISTE (1863- ), French general and African explorer, was born at Thoissey (Ain) on Nov. 22 1863. After four years' service in the ranks, he was, in March 1887, appointed a sub-h'eutenant. In 1889 he was on active service in Senegal, was twice wounded and made a chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He was promoted lieutenant in Jan. 1890, captain in 1892, and commandant (chef de bataillon) in 1898. In the latter year he carried out his historic march on and occupation of Fashoda (see 1.341), and for this he was promoted to the high grade of commander in the Legion of Honour, having been previously (July 1895) raised from the grade of chevalier to that of officer. In Jan. 1900 he became lieutenant-colonel, and was made colonel two years later. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914 he was serving on the staff of the governor of Belfort; but in Sept. he was appointed to command the Colonial Bde. of the XIV. Corps. He distinguished himself in that capacity, was cited in army orders, and in Feb. 1915 was promoted a temporary-general of brigade. The following May he assumed command of the 10th (Colonial) Division. He was wounded in Sept. 1915, and was made a grand officer of the Legion of Honour. On March 25 1916 he was made a substantive-general of brigade. In the following Oct. he was again wounded, and on March 17 1917 received a second mention for distinguished service. On April 4 1917 he was promoted general of division and confirmed in his appointment as commander of the 10th Colonial Div. an appointment which he held throughout the later campaigns on the western front. He retired from the army in 1919 with a high reputation as a leader of troops in battle. He was given the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour in 1920.