15 Facts About Adolphe Niel

Adolphe Niel was a French Army general and statesman.

Adolphe Niel was born at Muret, Haute-Garonne and entered the Ecole Polytechnique in 1821.

Adolphe Niel fought in the French conquest of Algeria, participating in the storming of Constantine.

Adolphe Niel was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1840 and to colonel in 1846.

In 1851, Adolphe Niel became a member of the Committee of Fortifications.

Adolphe Niel became a member of the council of state in 1852 and in 1853 was promoted to general of division.

Early in 1855 Adolphe Niel was sent to the Crimea, where he succeeded General Michel Bizot as chief of engineers.

For some years Adolphe Niel had been the most trusted military adviser of Napoleon III, and he was now empowered to advise the generals on the spot in accordance with the wishes of the sovereign and the home government.

Adolphe Niel managed to carry out this delicate and difficult task with as much success as could be expected, and he directed siege operations at the Battle of Malakoff.

Adolphe Niel's reward was the grand cross of the Legion d'honneur.

From 1855 to 1859 Adolphe Niel was employed at headquarters and served in the French Senate.

Adolphe Niel was made a marshal of France on the field at Solferino.

Adolphe Niel was able to rearm the whole of the army with the chassepot rifle, but not the Garde Mobile.

Adolphe Niel did not live to complete the development of his system.

Adolphe Niel died in Paris during an operation for a bladder stone, and a year later the Franco-Prussian War destroyed the old imperial army upon which the new formations were to have been grafted.