 Complete the following phrase:  Born on 20 April 1776 in La Fère, in a noble family from northern France, on 12 March 1792 he became a student in the artillery school and held the rank of sublieutet. He graduated on 1 September with the rank of lieutet in the 7th regiment of artillery. Seeing active service at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars, he took part to the campaign of 1792 and served in the French Army of Italy, attaining the rank of captain. During the radical phase of the Revolution, he was suspended from his duties, because of his noble origins, but was quickly reinstated on 25 November 1794. He subsequently served in the Army of the Rhine and Moselle and in the Army of Italy, seeing continuous active service from 1797 to 1800. Promoted to Battalion Commander on 2 October 1802, he became a Major of the 2nd regiment of horse artillery 22 May 1803. Between 1803 and 1804, his unit was integrated in the Army of England, a force with which Napoleon intended to 