Guilin Laurent Bizanet (French pronunciation: [ɡilɛ̃ lɔʁɑ̃ bizanɛ]; 10 August 1755 – 18 April 1836) was a Republican French Revolutionary General who served during the American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Guilin Laurent Bizanet
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| Born | (1755-08-10)August 10, 1755 Grenoble |
| Died | April 18, 1836(1836-04-18) (aged 80) |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Rank | Divisional general |
| Awards | Legion of Honour |
Born in Grenoble, capital of the French department of Isère, Bizanet began his career as a sailor-gunner on 4 November 1780 and was aboard the Majestueux during the American Revolutionary War from 11 June 1781 to 24 January 1783.[1] After volunteering for the army, he became a brigadier-general on 22 August 1793 and a divisional general on 10 April 1794. He was a defender at Monaco in 1793 and at the end of the French Consulate in 1804 became the commander of the armies in Marseille.[2]
He was named commandant at the fortress of Bergen op Zoom in 1810 and successfully repelled a night attack on 8 March 1814 led by General Sir Thomas Graham.[1][3] After the attack, Graham wrote in a despatch to London:
"Sir ... I am anxious too to do justice to the conduct of General Bizanet, which, truly characteristic of a brave mun, has been marked from the first with the most kind and humane attentions to the prisoners."[4]
Bizanet was commander of Marseille during the Hundred Days under Marshal Guillaume Brune.
He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour on 12 December 1803 then an Officer of the same order on 14 June 1804. On 19 July 1814 he was made a Knight of the Order of Saint LouisbyLouis XVIII of France.[2] His name is engraved on the 40th Column of the Arc de Triomph