Charles Le Gendre

Charles William (Guillaum) Joseph Émile Le Gendre (August 26, 1830 – September 1, 1899) was a French-born American general and diplomat, who served as advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan from 1872 to 1875 and as advisor to Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire from 1890 to 1899.

Biography

Early life

Le Gendre was born in Oullins, France the son of Jean-François Legendre-Héral, a noteworthy painter, sculptor, and professor at the L'Ecole de Beaux-Arts. Le Gendre was educated at the Royal College of Reims, but he eventually graduated from the University of Paris. At the age of 24, he married Clara Victoria Mulock, daughter of a well-known New York lawyer, in Brussels. Soon after their marriage, Le Gendre moved to the United States and became a naturalized citizen.

Civil War military career

With the outbreak of the American Civil War in the United States in 1861, Le Gendre helped recruit the 51st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and was commissioned a major of that regiment on October 29, 1861. Le Gendre participated in combat in North Carolina, and was present at the capture of Roanoke Island in 1862. However, he was badly wounded at the Battle of New Bern, North Carolina on March 14, 1862, where he was cited for his courage.