Philippe Charles Tronson du Coudray

Overview

Philippe Charles Tronson du Coudray was a distinguished French officer who volunteered to serve in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in France in 1738, du Coudray had a solid military background and extensive knowledge of artillery and military engineering. His experience and expertise led him to join the American cause in 1777 when he offered his services to the Continental Congress.

Du Coudray’s arrival in America created considerable controversy. The American Commissioners in Paris promised Du Coudray that he would lead the American artillery units. Henry Knox and other American officers vociferously protested Du Coudray’s appointment. George Washington sidestepped the issue by naming du Coudray as the artillery inspector general to utilize his expertise without angering his officers.

Unfortunately, du Coudray’s life was cut short before he could witness the full impact of his contributions. In 1777, he tragically drowned while crossing a river. Despite his untimely death, Philippe Charles Tronson du Coudray’s dedication to the American cause is admirable and should be celebrated as he gave his life in the Revolution.

Memoirs and Papers

Philippe Charles Tronson du Coudray Papers, William & Mary, Special Collections Research Center. https://scrcguides.libraries.wm.edu/repositories/2/resources/1334 .

Philippe Charles Jean Baptiste Tronson du Coudray, in Documents relating to the French participation in the American Revolution. Archives at Yale University. https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/11/resources/679.

Biographies

There are no full-length biographies in existence.  For an overview of his life, see:

Broadwater, Robert P. American Generals of the Revolutionary War: A Biographical Dictionary. Jefferson: McFarland, 2012.

For information on Du Coudray’s participation in the American Revolution, see:

Ferreiro, Larrie D. Brothers at Arms: American Independence and the Men of France & Spain Who Saved It. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 201

Walker, Paul K. Engineers of Independence: A Documentary History of the Army Engineers in the American Revolution, 1775-1783. Honolulu, Hawaii: University Press of the Pacific, 2002.

Du Coudray was a learned member of France’s Academy of Sciences