Jean-Pierre Maransin

Born on 20 March 1770 in Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrenees), died on 15 May 1828 in Paris.

Jean-Pierre Maransin volunteers in 1st Battalion of the Hautes-Pyrenees department on 13 February 1792. He is elected Captain on same day and takes part in the campaigns of 1792-1794 in the Army of the Western-Pyrenees. Incorporated with his battalion in the Half-brigade of the Landes during first amalgamation, he takes part in the campaigns of 1795-1796 in the Army of the West, in the campaigns of 1798 in the Army of England, in the campaigns of 1799 in the Army of Danube, where he is promoted to Major on 14 June 1799). and in the campaigns of 1800-1801 in the Army of the Rhine. Back in France, he serves in the Army of the Coasts of the Ocean 1802-1803. He becomes Lieutenant-Colonel of the 31st Light Infantry Regiment on 22 December 1803 and is awarded Knight’s cross of the Legion d’Honneur on 25 March 1804.

Maransin is appointed as Colonel of the Legion of the South on 27 January 1807 and is posted in the Observation Corps of the Gironde, later Army of Portugal. He distinguishes himself at Vimeiro and is promoted to Brigadier on 8 November 1808 and elevated to the rank of Baron of the Empire on next 20 December. Posted in the 5th and 6th corps of the Army of Portugal, he distinguishes himself during the fights in Andalusia, receives a serious injury at Albuera and is awarded Officer’s cross of the Legion d’Honneur on 20 May 1811. Appointed as governor of the province of Malaga in 1812, he becomes supernumerary Major-General in the General Headquarter on 30 May 1813 and is present at Vitoria. He takes command of the 6th Division of the Army of Spain and further distinguishes himself in Orthez, where he is wounded, and Toulouse.

After the Restoration, he is awarded Knight’s cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint-Louis on 24 August 1814, Commander’s cross of the Legion d’Honneur on 15 December and is appointed to the 2nd subdivision of the 10th Military Division on 15 January 1815. During the Hundred Days, he is in command of the 7th Reserve Division of the National Guards of the Army of the Alps. After the second Restoration, placed in non-activity on 26 October 1815, he is denounced and imprisoned during four months. Considered as part of the reserve pool of the General Staff of the Army on 30 December 1818, he is made to take retirement in December 1825.

His name is written on west side of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.