Claude - Étienne Michel General Claude - Étienne Michel ( 3 October 1772 – 18 June 1815 ) , an officer in Napoleon ' s army , was second in command of the Chasseur Division of the Guard and commander of its Brigade of Middle Guard . He may be the officer who uttered the words often attributed to Pierre Cambronne " " La Garde meurt et ne se rend pas " " " The Guard dies , and does not surrender " . Life . He was born in Pointre in the Jura . War of the Revolution . He enlisted in the 38th battalion of volunteers from the Jura department on 1 October 1791 , Sergeant Major of the 15th month , Lieutenant March 4 , 1792 , he became a lieutenant and captain on 22 August and 6 October in the 96th Regiment of Infantry , which in turn formed the 147th , 49th Half - Brigade and 24th Regiment of the line . He was deployed on the cordon on the borders of Switzerland in 1792 ; he was taken prisoner by the Prussians , March 5 , 1793 at Remderkerm ( Army of the Rhine ) . Exchanged on 3 Messidor year III , he rejoined his regiment , and reported at the vanguard of the army of Sambre and Meuse . Appointed Chief of Battalion , on 9 Vendemiaire year IV , he went to Corsica , and became part of the expedition to Ireland and the Gallo - Batavian army . On 10 Vendemiaire year VI , ( 2 October 1799 ) , he fought , the Anglo - Russians , at the village of Schoorldam ( in the north of Holland ) , maintained there throughout the day despite the efforts of the enemy , and was wounded at the end of the action . He was taken by the English , 6 vendemiaire Year VII , he was again exchanged , the next 15 Frimaire . On 10 Vendemiaire year VIII , at the Battle of Egmond aan Zee , he has the right arm broken by a gunshot . At the battle of Nuremberg , 27 Frimaire year IX , he led at the head of his battalion of 400 men , against a column of 4 , 000 Austrians , taking a large number of prisoners . He received during the action a shot in the left arm . Consulate and Empire . Promoted Major of the 40th regiment of the line on 30 Brumaire Year XII , and on the 4th of Germinal , a member of the Legion of Honor , his services at the battle of Austerlitz earned him , on 6 Nivose year XIV , the rank of colonel and his admission , as a Major in the 1st regiment of grenadiers of the Old Guard , on 1 May 1806 . In March 1806 , he married Margaret Maret ( 1784 – 1875 ) , daughter of Count Jean Philibert Maret and niece of Hugues - Bernard Maret . He was promoted Colonel of the regiment , on February 16 , 1807 , in recognition of his conduct at the Battle of Jena - Auerstedt and Battle of Eylau ; he fought at the Battle of Friedland , and left for Spain after the Treaty of Tilsit . He fought at Burgos , November 10 , 1808 , showing the greatest value and received the cross of the Legion of Honor and the title of Baron of the Empire . He was recalled to the army in 1809 , he attended the battles Battle of Eckmühl , Battle of Aspern - Essling and Battle of Wagram . He was appointed Brigadier General June 24 , 1811 , he made the campaigns of 1812 , 1813 and 1814 , in Russia , Saxony and France . In 1813 , the Emperor decorated him with the Cross of Commander of the Legion of Honor on April 6 , and Iron Crown August 16 , and appoints him , November 20 , Major General . In 1814 , February 3 , at Maisons - Blanches , he hunted the vanguard commanded by the Prince of Lichtenstein . The next day , supported by the dragoons of General André Briche , he surprised the allies at St . Theobald , and despite the greater numbers available to them , pushed them to St . Parres les Vaudes . On February 11 , at the Battle of Montmirail , his arm was shattered by a shot , he remained at the head of his division and contributes greatly to the success of this day . He was still bedridden as a result of this injury , when the Allied armies entered into Paris . At the noise of war , the General forgot his wound and reappeared , his arm in a sling , the head of his troops , March 30 before the walls of the capital . Responsible for seizing the village of Pantin , defended by an army division of Wittgenstein . His efforts , however , had stopped the march of the enemy . Restoration . Louis XVIII named him a Knight of St . Louis August 20 , 1814 , and colonel in the Royal Guard . Hundred Days . The Emperor , on his return from Elba , created him Count of the Empire , and as commander of northern division of the Old Guard . In Waterloo , June 18 , Michel rushes on the enemy ' s forces and attacked , even beyond the plateau of La Haye Sainte . This attack , which caused heavy losses in the ranks , is fatal to General Michel . His body was not recovered and is buried with his comrades in the great falls of Mount St . John . His name is on the north side of the Arc de Triomphe .