Colonel Marie-Louis-Hercule-Hubert Corbineau
Born: April 10, 1780
Died: April 5, 1823
Place of Birth: Marchiennes, Nord
Cause of Death: Unknown
| Battle | Unit | Rank |
| Austerlitz | Imperial Guard - Chasseurs à Cheval | |
| Eylau | Imperial Guard - Chasseurs à Cheval | |
| Wagram | Colonel | Imperial Guard - Chasseurs à Cheval |
Hercule Corbineau was the youngest of three brothers who rose to distinction in the army. Claude-Louis-Constant Corbineau was an aide-de-camp to the Emperor, and his other brother Jean-Baptiste-Juvénal Corbineau was also an aide-de-camp to the Emperor, but is famous for his discovery of the ford over the Berezina.
Hercule Corbineau was a great friend of General Daumesnil, serving much of his career in the same regiment, and wounded at almost the exact same time as Daumesnil during the Battle of Wagram. Both had a leg amputated by Dr. Larrey, and they demanded to be put in the same room in as one another as they recovered, fearing that if one died then other would die too.
Shortly afterwards, on August 15th, in honor of the Emperor's birthday, great celebrations were held and Corbineau and Daumesnil gave permission to their attendants to go partake in the festivities. Corbineau seemed quiet, but then Daumesnil heard what sounded like water dripping. Daumesnil called out to Corbineau, but got no response. At risk to himself due to his unhealed amputation, Daumesnil crawled out of his bed and over to Corbineau's. Finding Corbineau's wound bleeding badly, Daumesnil yelled for help but no one came. Despite the further risk to himself, Daumesnil crawled out of the room and through two more rooms, arriving at the staircase. As still no one answered his cries for help, Daumesnil began to use the bannister to lower himself down the stairs step by painful step. Finally reaching the bottom, he called out one more time, and then passed out from exhaustion. This last time, he was heard, and upon realizing what had happened, doctors were summoned, and both men's lives were saved. When both regained consciousness, Daumesnil asked Corbineau, "Did you know, I've been to see the fireworks?"
In honor of both Corbineau's and Daumesnil's service, Napoleon left them on the Chasseurs à cheval roll, despite the fact that after their wounds received at Wagram, neither served with that unit again.
Leaving the military due to his wound, in 1810 Corbineau went to the Emperor Napoleon and asked to be appointed to the tax collector's office of Rouen. Due to the nature of this position, it required a deposit which Corbineau was unable to afford. "Who is going to furnish the deposit?" Napoleon asked. "My leg, Sire," Corbineau replied. "And myself as well," Napoleon responded, laughing.
Sources: Ryan (Napoleon's Shield and Guardian), Six (Dictionnaire Biographique)
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