Background
Pierre de Ruel was born on May 10, 1752 at Champignol-lez-Mondeville, Aube, France.
Pierre de Ruel was born on May 10, 1752 at Champignol-lez-Mondeville, Aube, France.
After service in the colonies, he returned to France and purchased the post of lieutenant of the Swiss guard of the count of Provence. During the Revolution he was named lieutenant-general, and took an active part in the battles of Valmy and Jemmapes. Minister of war in February 1793, he denounced his old commander, C. F. Dumouriez, to the Convention, and was one of the four deputies sent to watch him. Given over by him to the Austrians on the 3rd of April 1793, Beurnonville was not exchanged until November 1795. He entered the service again, commanded the armies of the Sambre-et-Meuse and of the North, and was appointed inspector of infantry of the army of England in 1798. In 1800 he was sent as ambassador to Berlin, in 1802 to Madrid. During the Hundred Days he followed Louis XVIII to Ghent.
In 1814 he was a member of the provisional government organized after the abdication of Napoleon and a member of the Grand Orient de France.
He married a wealthy Creole.