Bernard, Simon, 1779-1839

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Simon Bernard, a French military engineer, was born in 1779 and educated at the Ecole Polytechnique. He served in the French army of the Rhine as well as in northern Italy and was made a French captain in 1800. He became known to Napoleon and worked on military intelligence leading to the battle of Austerlitz. He was charged with designing fortifications of Antwerp and later served Napoleon directly. After Napoleon's fall, Bernard went to the United States (1816) and was given a position with rank of brigadier-general in the Army Corps of Engineers. He worked on planning coastal defenses. He was appointed to a United States engineering board with Joseph G. Totten and worked on construction of canals and a system of United States military fortification. His most famous military work was Fort Monroe, Va. Upon returning to France in 1831, he worked for the French king and was the French minister of war and inspector-general of engineers. He died in 1839.

From the description of Simon Bernard papers, 1843. (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 47028000

French general and engineer; minister of war, 1826-1839; worked in US on Fort Monroe and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

From the guide to the Baron Simon Bernard letter to Monsieur Duponceau, 1823, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Christopher Van Deventer papers 1799-1925 Van Deventer, Christopher, papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Baron Simon Bernard letter to Monsieur Duponceau, 1823 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Porter, David, 1780-1843. Letter, January 28, 1830. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
creatorOf Bernard, Simon, 1779-1839. Simon Bernard papers, 1843. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Barraud, Philip, 1757-1830. Letters, 1791-1827, to St. George Tucker. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Bowyer-Hubard Papers, 1767-1816 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Van Deventer, Christopher, d. 1838. Christopher Van Deventer papers, 1799-1925. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Bernard, Simon, 1779-1839. Bowyer-Hubard Papers, 1767-1782 and 1816. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Bernard, Simon. Simon Bernard letter, 1817 Sept. 3. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Madison, James, 1751-1836. Autograph note signed : Montpelier, Va., to General [Simon] Bernard, n.p., 1831 Aug. 3. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Bernard, Simon, 1779-1839. Autograph letters signed (2) : Paris, to Henry Wheaton, 1835 Aug. 15-1835 Aug. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Madison, James, 1751-1836. Autograph note signed : Montpelier, Va., to General [Simon] Bernard, n.p., 1831 Aug. 3. University of Chicago Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barraud, Philip, 1757-1830. person
associatedWith Bowyer, Michael. person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Porter, David, 1780-1843. person
associatedWith Van Deventer, Christopher, 1788-1838 person
associatedWith Van Deventer, Christopher, d. 1838. person
associatedWith Wheaton, Henry, 1785-1848, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Fortification
Military engineering
Occupation
Generals
Activity

Person

Birth 1779-04-28

Death 1839-11-05

French

French

Information

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