Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The French Royal and Military Order of St. Louis badge attributed to Général Count Alexandre Dalton, who was created a Commander of the Order in October 1826, one of only 65 Generals of the French Empire so honoured

France, Kingdom, Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, badge, 38mm, gold and enamel, ball finials, unmarked, contained in a small leather pouch, significant enamel damage, with ball finial missing from one tip of cross, about fine, rare £1,800-£2,200

Alexandre Dalton was born in Brive-la-Gaillarde on 20 April 1776 and enrolled in Berwicks Irish Regiment, in French service, as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1791, and became aide-de-camp to Generals Hoche and Berthier from 1795-1801. In 1796, he accompanied Hoche and the Irish rebel Wolfe Tone on the failed expeditionary force to Ireland in support of the Irish rebels against the English, and later acted as intermediary in the negotiations in Paris between the French Directory government and the United Irish leaders, including Wolfe Tone, for two further invasion forces in 1798. A successful Irish uprising against the English failed on both occasions and Tone was captured in the second attempt in 1798.

Dalton rose rapidly to the rank of adjutant-commandant and distinguished himself at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. In 1806, he was appointed Colonel of the 59th Regiment de Ligne. He was promoted Brigadier General for the Spanish campaign in 1809 and made Baron of the French Empire the same year. In the Russian campaign he was seriously wounded at the Battle of Smolensk in 1812, and was made a Knight of the Order of St. Louis in July 1814. In 1815, during the Hundred Days, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General and given command of the 25th Division of the Army of the Var.

After the restoration of the French monarchy of Louis XVIII in 1815, Dalton was made hereditary Count and in 1826 was appointed a Commander of the Order of St. Louis, further being created a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1833. He retired from active service in 1848 and died at Versailles on 20 March. 1859.

Dalton was one of only 65 Generals of the French Empire who were appointed a Commander of the Order of St. Louis. He is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, and his name is inscribed with Napoleon’s Generals on the west pillar of the ‘Arc de Triomphe’.

Sold with a copy of ‘Dalton of Mount Dalton and France, and the Dalton heirlooms’ which features the above badge; together with detailed research regarding its ownership over the last 200 years.