Promised a career as a lawyer, following the death of his father, he joined the army as a private. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a general, and in 1804 was made Marshal of the Empire. Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. He was one of Napoleon's few marshals capable of leading an army away from the Emperor.Autograph letter signed to Francois Lambert, dated Boulogne, 29 Prairial an 13 (18.06.1803). The Marshal saw with interest the minutes of the inspection reviews carried out by his correspondent for Year XII; the form given by Inspector Lambert to his minutes combines clarity and conciseness, a classification such that serious errors would be difficult to commit: ÓÉd'aprs ces considŽrations, je ne doute pas que le ComitŽ Central ne donne son suffrage, et ne porte .E. le ministre de la guerre ˆ adopter un cadre qui rŽunit autant d'avantages ÉÓ.