Lazare Carnot

A brilliant officer in the Royal Corps of Engineers and author of works on mechanics, Carnot was elected to the National Convention and joined the Committee of Public Safety in August 1793 to direct war operations. Confronted by royalist rebellions and European coalitions, he instituted the universal draft (levée en masse).

Carnot took personal command alongside General Jourdan at the pivotal Battle of Wattignies in October 1793, repelling Austrian forces. A brilliant mathematician, he published pioneering treatises on the geometry of positions. He served as Minister of War under Napoleon, dying in exile at Magdeburg; his grandson Sadi Carnot became President of France.