The New Student's Reference Work/Beauharnais, Eugène de

Beauharnais (bō'är'nā′), Eugène de, a French soldier and statesman, was born at Paris in 1781. His mother (Josephine) became the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. He held many positions in the French army, and in 1805 was appointed viceroy of Italy, filling the position with ability. He showed courage and military capacity in the campaigns against Austria and Russia. He conducted the retreat from Russia in a masterly manner. After the overthrow of Napoleon, he lived at Munich, the title of Duke of Leuchtenberg being granted him by the king of Bavaria, whose daughter he had married. He died there in 1824.