Henri François Xavier Gresley


Henri François Xavier Gresley was a French Minister of War.

Life

He was the son of Henry Francis Xavier and Nathalie Gresley Lariviere.
He graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique. Corps officers of Staff.
He was first lieutenant in two regiments.
He was in Constantine as Adjutant General Herbillon Inspector of Infantry in 1841.
He participated in several campaigns, and was wounded at Zaatcha.
He was head of the Political Bureau of Algiers from 1862 to 1870.
He became colonel in 1865.
He returned to France during the War of 1870.
He was Chief of Staff Brigadier General Duhesme, then the cavalry division of the corps of MacMahon.
He was taken prisoner at Sedan, he was interned in Germany, released in 1871.
He commanded a brigade of infantry in the fight against the Commune.
General Prince Henri, Duke of Aumale, commander of the 7th Corps, took over as Chief of Staff.
He was responsible to organize the General Staff Department of War, became general in 1875, State Councilor on special duty in 1876, Minister of War.
His resigned with the government of Marshal MacMahon.
He became senator for life, but did little to parliamentary work. He still commanded an army at Orleans from 1880 to 1883 and retired in May 1884. He died a very long illness.