A Strasbourg stonemason’s son who trained as an architect and served as a junior officer in the Austrian army before returning to inspect public buildings, Kléber made his name in the defence of Mainz in 1793.
The garrison’s parole not to serve against the coalition sent him and his troops to the Vendée, where he directed the republican victory at Cholet in October and fought at Le Mans and Savenay. He submitted plans for ending the war there by encircling the insurgents and attacking only armed gatherings, and was posted away to Brest days before Turreau’s columns began.
He commanded a wing at Fleurus in June 1794 and twice declined chief command. Taken to Egypt, he succeeded to the command when Bonaparte left without warning him, and was assassinated at Cairo on 14 June 1800.
