Theophile Malo Corret de la Tour d'Auvergne (23 November 1743-28 June 1800) was a captain of the French Army who is called "the first Grenadier of France".
Biography[]
Born in Carhaix-Plougher, Brittany, France on 23 November 1743. In 1767 he joined the Maison du Roi and fought in the American Revolutionary War, where he was offered a rank in the Spanish Army during the Franco-Spanish invasion of Minorca; he refused to change his allegiance and declined. In 1784 he was promoted to captain and his patriotism prevented him from deserting his regiment like many other officers, who emigrated from France as enemies of the constitution.
A Celtomaniac, he published works on the Bretons and Celts and coined the words "dolmen" (a type of tomb) and "menhir" (an upright standing rock) to Celtic antiquarianism. By 1795 he was in poor health while serving in the Alps, and he lived on milk due to the loss of his teeth. He was held prisoner for two years, and he returned home in 1797. That year, his old friend's son was conscripted into the army, so Corret decided to volunteer in his place. He fought on the Rhine in 1797 and Switzerland in 1798-1799 as a captain, and he was called the "first grenadier of France" by Napoleon, who commended him. Because of this, Corret renewed his enlistment, and he continued fighting.
In 1800, the brave 57-year-old captain was killed at the battle of Oberhausen on 27 June 1800 in Bavaria against Austrian forces. His heart was carried by his 46th Company of Grenadiers, then Giuseppe Garibaldi, before being deposited in Paris in 1883. His name is enscribed on the eastern pillar on Avenue des Champs-Élysées / Avenue de Wagram.