Gebhard Leberecht von Blächer

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (1742–1819) was a Prussian field marshal best known for his leadership in the Napoleonic Wars. Born in Rostock, he entered military service as a young man and later rose through the Prussian army. Blücher became a prominent commander during the Wars of Liberation and gained a reputation for aggressive, determined tactics. In 1815 he led the Prussian army in the Waterloo campaign, fighting at Ligny and then marching to support the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, a decisive contribution to Napoleon’s defeat. Though often quoted, Blücher was a soldier and statesman rather than a literary author.