General Jean-Baptiste Kléber
Born: March 9, 1753
Died: June 14, 1800
Place of Birth: Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin
Cause of Death: Assassinated
| Battle | Unit | Rank |
| Fleurus | Général de division | |
| Alexandria | Général de division | Division Kléber |
| Jaffa | Général de division | Division Kléber |
| Acre | Général de division | Division Kléber |
| Mount Tabor | Général de division | Division Kléber |
A successful architect before the Revolution, Kléber rejoined the army in a volunteer batallion as France became threatened. At times seeming unconfident, he nonetheless consistently showed much talent and emerged victorious throughout many campaigns. Despite the praise given to his talents, he resented the attention given to his superiors and other Revolutionary generals. He was a great friend of General Marceau-Desgraviers and designed a pyramid monument as his friend's tomb.
Napoleon once said there was no sight so splendid as watching Kléber go into battle, and likened him to the god of war, Mars.
Accompanying the expedition to Egypt, Kléber further distinguished himself, and upon General Bonaparte's deparature he was unwillingly made the Commander-in-Chief. Even though he desired to evacuate Egypt and received little tangible support from France, he brilliantly led the army to victories and held their position reasonably secure. Despite his excellent leadership, Kléber was very angry at General Bonaparte for abandoning them in Egypt, and he would often curse his former commander and draw cartoons of him. Unfortunately, one day as Kléber walked through his garden, a religious fanatic surprised him and stabbed him to death. He died within an hour of Desaix's death at Marengo.
Sources: Chandler (Dictionary), Elting (Swords Around a Throne), Haythornthwaite (Who Was Who), Six (Dictionnaire Biographique)