Pierre-François Bouchard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre-François Bouchard
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| Born | 29 April 1771 Orgelet, France
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| Died | 5 August 1822 (aged 51) Givet, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École polytechnique |
| Occupation | Army officer, military engineer |
| Known for | The discovery of the Rosetta Stone |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Élisabeth Bergere |
| Parent(s) |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service/ |
 French Army |
| Years of service | 1793–1822 |
| Rank | Engineer in Chief |
| Battles/wars | Napoleonic Wars |
Pierre-François Bouchard (born 29 April 1771 in Orgelet, France – died 5 August 1822 in Givet, France) was a French army officer and engineer. He is best known for a truly amazing discovery: the Rosetta Stone. This ancient stone was super important because it helped experts finally understand Ancient Egyptian writing, like hieroglyphs, after thousands of years!
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pierre-François was born in 1771 in a town called Orgelet in France. He was the youngest of seven children. His father, Pierre Bouchard, had many different jobs, from a master woodworker to a teacher.
Pierre-François went to school in Orgelet and then studied philosophy and math in Besançon. His military journey began in 1793 when he joined the army as a sergeant-major. He was part of the famous "soldiers of Year II" and fought in important battles in Champagne and Belgium.
In 1794, he was sent to a special school for hot-air balloons, called the École Nationale d'Aérostatique. He became a lieutenant there and even taught math. During an experiment to make hydrogen gas for balloons, his right eye was badly hurt when a gas flask exploded. The famous inventor Nicolas-Jacques Conté, who was leading the experiment and also lost an eye, thought very highly of Bouchard.
Conté recommended Bouchard to Claude Louis Berthollet, one of the founders of the famous École polytechnique – a top engineering school in France. Bouchard joined the school in 1796. He studied geometry and learned how to build fortifications (strong defensive structures). His studies were cut short when he was chosen to join the French expedition to Egypt in 1798.
Adventures in Egypt
Just before heading to Egypt, Pierre-François married Marie Élisabeth Bergere in April 1798. She was five years younger than him, and they would later have two children. He then sailed to Egypt and landed there in July 1798.
Once in Egypt, he became part of the "Commission des Sciences et des Arts," a group of scientists and artists who were there to study Egypt. He worked under Conté again, investigating Egyptian crafts and techniques. He traveled to Cairo and then joined a team of geographers studying Lake Menzalé. After a few weeks, he officially graduated from the École polytechnique and was promoted to engineer lieutenant. He then left the scientific commission to focus on his army training.
The Famous Rosetta Stone Discovery
Pierre-François Bouchard was put in charge of rebuilding an old fort near the city of Rosetta (now called Rashid). This fort was renamed Fort Julien by Bonaparte. It was during these rebuilding efforts, in July 1799, that Bouchard made his incredible discovery: the Rosetta Stone!
He immediately understood how important this stone was. It had writing in three different scripts: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic (another Egyptian script), and Ancient Greek. This was key because scholars could read Greek, and by comparing the texts, they hoped to finally crack the code of the ancient Egyptian language. Bouchard quickly shared his excitement with generals Menou and Bonaparte.
Challenges and Captures in Egypt
Bouchard faced many challenges in Egypt. He was involved in the difficult defense of the fort of El-Arish against the Ottomans. He was even sent as an envoy (a messenger) to the Grand Vizier but was arrested and imprisoned in Damascus for over a month.
After his release, he was promoted to captain in May 1800. He was then captured again when the French garrison at Fort Julien had to surrender to British and Ottoman troops. He was finally released at the end of the war in Egypt and returned to France in July 1801.
Later Military Career
Back in France, Bouchard joined another expedition, this time to Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). His wife, Marie Élisabeth, even traveled with him! Unfortunately, both of them caught yellow fever on the island. His wife was sent back to France and gave birth to their daughter in 1802, though Bouchard didn't get the news until much later. Bouchard himself was captured again and held in Jamaica before being released in 1804.
After recovering in France, he joined Napoleon again in 1805. He was put in charge of building projects in a new town called Vendée (later La Roche-sur-Yon), which Napoleon founded to help control the area. Bouchard and his wife lived there for two years, and their son was born during this time.
In 1807, Bouchard joined a French force sent to Spain and Portugal during the Peninsular War. He spent seven years fighting bravely in this war, under various generals. He was captured yet again after a battle in Spain in 1808.
When he was released, he rejoined the army and continued to fight, distinguishing himself in battles like the crossing of the fortified bridge at Amarante. He was promoted to chef de bataillon (a type of major) in 1809. However, his family faced financial hardship because he used his pay to buy equipment and horses.
He fought in another expedition to Portugal, which also ended in retreat. He was made a Knight of the Légion d'Honneur, a very important French award. He was captured for a fourth time in Spain in 1812 and sent to England. This meant his family, including his children and parents, were left without his income.
Final Years and Legacy
Bouchard finally returned to France in 1814 after the war ended. During the Bourbon Restoration, he was recognized for his service, becoming an Officer of the Légion d'Honneur and a knight of the Order of Saint Louis. He was also made chief engineer of Orléans.
During the Hundred Days (when Napoleon briefly returned to power), Bouchard sided with Napoleon and was put in charge of defending Laon. After Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo, Bouchard faced consequences for supporting him. He was put on half-pay, meaning he received only half his salary. He later managed to rejoin the army and was assigned to fortified cities in northern France.
Pierre-François Bouchard died in Givet in 1822, after a long illness. Sadly, his 13-year-old daughter passed away just before him. His friends helped his widow get a small pension from the king, recognizing his important contributions. His legacy, however, lives on through the incredible Rosetta Stone, which he brought to light and which opened up the secrets of ancient Egypt to the world.
