1. Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse was a French military officer who was briefly Minister of the Interior and Public Security in 1858.
15 Facts About Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse
1. 2.
Charles Marie Esprit Espinasse was born in Castelnaudary on 2 April 1815, son of Jean Espinasse and Germaine Robert.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse was admitted to the Military Academy of Saint-Cyr in 1833.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse went on to the Foreign Legion, where he was promoted to lieutenant in April 1838.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse participated in the campaign in Algeria from 1835 to 1849, where he was severely wounded in combat at Aures with four shots to the chest, lower abdomen and thighs.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse was promoted to battalion commander in the regiment of Zouaves, where he served from 20 October 1845 to 1 May 1849.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse supported Louis Napoleon in the coup of 2 December 1851, and became his aide de camp.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse was given command of the 3rd infantry brigade at the Helfaut camp near Saint-Omer.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse married Mary Festugiere of Bordeaux in 1853, with whom he had three children.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse distinguished himself in the Battle of the Chernaya and the Battle of Malakoff.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse was promoted to major general, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of General Pierre Bosquet's 2nd Corps.
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On return to France, Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse became inspector general of infantry in 1857.
13.
Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse held this position from 7 February to 14 June 1858, when he was appointed senator.
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Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse joined the army of Italy on 2 April 1859 as commander of the 2nd Division of the 2nd Corps of General MacMahon's army.
15.
Charles-Marie-Esprit Espinasse was killed in the village of Magenta, Lombardy on 4 June 1859, during the Battle of Magenta.