Général Mellinet
(1798-1894)

Born at Nantes on 1 June 1788, Émile Mellinet followed his father’s example and chose a career in the army. A sub-lieutenant in 1815, he was wounded in Spain in 1823 and became a chef de bataillon in 1840. He distinguished himself in Africa from 1842 to 1850 and on his return to France was promoted général de brigade. At the Battle of Magenta in 1859, during the Italian campaign, he distinguished himself at the head of the Grenadier guards, who for several hours supported the weight of the battle. He became a senator in 1865 and in 1869 was placed on the reserve list. He reentered service in 1870 to defend the Empress Eugénie and allow her flight after the riots of September 1870.

Général Mellinet died on 20 January 1894 at Nantes, where a statue of him in heroic pose stands today.