Auguste-Louis Petiet (3 June 1784 – 1 August 1858), was a French general and politician of the First French Empire.
Biography
Youngest son of Claude Louis Petiet, and younger brother of Pierre François Petiet, Augustin Petiet finished his studies to enter the École Polytechnique, and was declared eligible for combat by Adrien-Marie Legendre; his father, who served with Napoleon Bonaparte (now First Consul of France) in the Army of the Reserve, took his son to battle and saw service at the Battle of Marengo.
In 1804, Petiet was commissioned as a second lieutenant (sous-lieutenant) of the 10th Hussar Regiment, but shortly after left the regiment to join Marshal Soult's Staff at the Camp of Boulogne.
During the Battle of Austerlitz, Petiet is involved in the three charges of the dragoon division, and leads his section during the capture of four guns (cannons). For his accomplishments, the Emperor decorates Petiet with the Legion of Honour (Légion de Honneur). During the Battle of Eylau, he is promoted to captain (capitaine) and is given command of a company of the 8th Hussar Regiment, and during the Battle of Friedland contributes to the defeat of a Prussian cuirassier detachment of 300 men.
