April 29

James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1665–1745), was an Anglo-Irish statesman and military commander. He fought in the Williamite War in Ireland and later in the War of the Spanish Succession under Marlborough. Appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he oversaw political reforms and managed colonial affairs. His loyalty to the Crown earned him high honors, though he was later involved in political controversies. His career reflects the complex loyalties and power struggles of the early 18th century.

Georg Carl von Döbeln (1758–1820) was a celebrated Swedish military officer. He earned distinction in the Russo–Swedish War, notably at the Battle of Porrassalmi in 1789. Wounded in action, he became famous for wearing a black silk bandage over his head. Promoted to general, he led troops with tactical skill and personal courage throughout his career. He remains a national symbol of Swedish valor and resilience.

Jean-Baptiste Jourdan (1762–1833) was a key French military leader during the Revolutionary Wars. He claimed victory at the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, securing France’s eastern frontier. Elevated to Marshal of the Empire by Napoleon, he served in Italy and Spain with distinction. After his military career, he briefly held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs. His strategic innovations and leadership impacted the evolution of modern European warfare.

Georges Ernest Boulanger was born in 1837 and distinguished himself as a military officer during the Franco-Prussian War. As Minister of War in the 1880s, he championed military reforms and strong national defense, earning him widespread popularity under the nickname 'General Revanche'. Boulanger's charismatic appeal and promises to avenge France's defeat inspired a mass political movement that threatened the stability of the Third Republic. In 1889 he stood on the brink of power, but hesitated at a critical moment and ultimately fled into exile amid legal pressures. He spent his remaining years abroad and died by suicide in Brussels in 1891. Boulanger's rise and fall illustrated the volatile mix of nationalism and politics in late 19th-century France.