Julien Bessières embarked for Egypt in 1798 as a surgeon to the scientific commission that followed the army, and the adventure lasted less than three months: ill, he returned as early as October. He owed his place to the recommendation of a first cousin, a future marshal. A physician by training, he then made his career as a prefect and then a diplomat. Four words name him, and not one speaks of Egypt.
The story
The adventure lasted less than three months. Sailing for Egypt in 1798 as assistant surgeon to the Commission of Sciences and Arts — the scholarly enterprise that travelled with the army — Julien Bessières fell ill and had to return to France as early as 26 October.
Born at Gramat, in the Lot, on 30 July 1777, he was the first cousin of the future Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières, to whose recommendation he owed his place in the expedition. Trained as a physician, he went on to a diplomatic and administrative career: consul general at Venice, imperial commissioner for the Ionian Islands at Corfu, then prefect of the Gers, the Aveyron and the Ariège.
He died in 1840. His grave in Division 41 carries only his name and a title — “J. BESSIERES, pair de France”, Peer of France — and nothing of Egypt. His neighbour there is Volney, another traveller in the East, who brought back two years in the Levant and a book that held authority for half a century.
On site, do not miss
No inscription is recorded on the grave. The best landmark is the proximity of Volney, another traveller of the East, in the same Division.
Visitors' questions
Where is Julien Bessières' grave?
In Division 41, chemin des Anglais, fifth row, not far from Volney. No inscription is recorded on the grave: you have to know the spot to find it, in a quiet Division high up in the cemetery.
VolneyWas he related to Marshal Bessières?
His first cousin: it was on the recommendation of the future Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières that he was taken on to the Egyptian expedition of 1798, as an assistant surgeon with the Commission of Sciences and Arts.
Marshal VictorWhat did he do in Egypt?
Little: an assistant surgeon with the Commission of Sciences and Arts, he fell ill and had to sail home on 26 October 1798 — less than three months after the landing. His career would be made afterwards, in administration.
Gaspard MongeWhat was his trade?
He had three: physician and surgeon by training, then prefect, then diplomat under the Empire and the Restoration. The path of a servant of the state, begun in military medicine in Egypt and carried on under two regimes.
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