General Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Molitor
Born: March 7, 1770
Died: July 28, 1849
Place of Birth: Hayange, Moselle
Cause of Death: Natural causes
| Battle | Unit | Rank |
| Caldiero | Général de division | 3rd Division |
| Aspern-Essling | Général de division | IV Corps (Masséna) - 3rd Division |
| Wagram | Général de division | IV Corps (Masséna) - 3rd Division |
General Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Molitor is best known for his excellent defense of Aspern during the Battle of Aspern-Essling, but he distinguished himself throughout his career. First joining the 4th Batallion of Volunteers of the Moselle in 1791, he served his initial years in the Army of the Moselle. In 1793 he received a promotion to chef de batallion and fought at Kaisterslautern, Woerth, and Geisberg. The next year he served at Trippstadt in Taponier's division, and then in 1795 he received a promotion to chef de brigade and became part of the Army of the Rhine and Moselle. In early 1797 he served in Ambert's division and later that year was wounded at the siege of Mayence.
1799 was a year full of activity for Chef de Brigade Molitor. Employed in the Army of the Danube, he fought at Pfullendorf in March in Lefebvre's division. In June, despite not being a general de brigade, he took command of a brigade of Oudinot's 4th Division. The next month, he received a promotion to general de brigade to correct this inconsistency. A month later, he took command of the 3rd Brigade of Division Lecourbe and seized Glarus. Much marching and fighting followed, as in September he pushed back Jellachich and seized Linken, and stopped the Austrians at Klonthal but was then driven out. On October 1st, he stopped Suvarov at the combat of Naefels, and triumphantly re-entered Glarus a few days later.
In March of 1800 General Molitor took command of the 2nd Brigade of Vandamme's division in the Army of the Rhine, and led this brigade into action at Stockach and Moesskirch. That July he took command of the 1st Division of Lecourbe's corps and fought at Feldkirch. A promotion in October to general de division followed, and the next year he was placed in an administrative position, commanding the 7th Military Division at Grenoble.
In 1805, as the campaigning got underway, Molitor replaced Zayonchek and took command of the 3rd Division under Masséna. With this unit he served at San-Michele, and then commanded the left at the Battle of Caldiero. The next year he was ordered to occupy Dalmatia, where he freed Lésina, took Curzola, delivered Raguse. In April of 1807 he took command of a division under Brune and became Governor of Swedish Pomerania. That July he participated in the siege of Stralsund and then a few months later he joined Soult's IV Corps and later temporarily took command of IV Corps.
Rewards followed, with Molitor being made a Count of the Empire in 1808 and receiving a Grand Cross of the Order of Charles-Frédéric of Baden in 1809. In February of 1809 he took command of the 3rd Division of a corps that was to become Masséna's IV Corps. After fighting at Neumarkt in April, he seized the Isle of Lobau in the midst of the Danube to secure a crossing point for the Grande Armée. During the Battle of Aspern-Essling, Molitor's division held Aspern against all odds and repeated Austrian attacks. Six weeks later he again distinguished himself, this time at Wagram.
In 1810 Molitor was placed in command of the 17th Military Division at Amsterdam, where he served for the next few years. As the numerically superior Allied armies closed in, he successfully evacuated his corps in late 1813 and joined up with Marshal Macdonald. Taking part in the defense of France, he was pushed back at Chaussée, then served at the defense of Châlons-sur-Marne and Troyes. When Macdonald left on Napoleon's orders to attempt to negotiate with the Allies, Molitor assumed command of Macdonald's XI Corps.
With the Bourbon Restoration, Molitor was made inspector general of infantry and a Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. Regardless, Molitor rejoined Napoleon on his return and took command of a division of National Guard troops in V Corps in Rapp's Army of the Rhine. Napoleon recognized Molitor by making him a peer of France, but when the Bourbons returned he lost that honor. Initially placed on non-activity by the Bourbons, within a few years he had returned to active duty.
Sources: Six (Dictionnaire Biographique)