JEAN-BAPTISTE DONATIEN DE VIMEUR, COUNT OF ROCHAMBEAU (1725-1807) Apostille signed in the capacity of Infantry Inspector

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on a document signed by the lieutenant-colonel commanding the detachment of the corps of the Grenadiers de France in Nancy and by the captain’s aide-major of the said corps (Nancy, 25 August 1771, 1 p. in-folio, regimental seal in red wax). Certificate of good conduct awarded to a grenadier from Lorraine who had served since 1747, who was wounded at the sieges of Berg-op-Zoom in 1747 and Port-Mahon in Menorca in 1756 (where Rochambeau also served). A highly valued officer, Count Rochambeau joined the army in 1742 and distinguished himself on numerous occasions, at the siege of Namur (1746), Lawfeld (1747, where he was wounded), Menorca (1756), Krefeld (1758) and Clostercamp (1760, where he was again wounded). He was appointed lieutenant general in 1780, and in the same year he was appointed to lead the French expedition in support of the United States because of his outstanding military qualities and his philosophical convictions in favour of the ideals of that country. He achieved glory by carrying out his mission successfully, participating in the victory of the siege of Yorktown with Washington and Admiral de Grasse. Back in France, he would remain faithful to his ideas and join the Revolution, which would make him Marshal of France. He nevertheless withdrew in 1792 and narrowly escaped the guillotine.