Jean Baptiste de Gribeauval was a French military officer and engineer, whose developments of French artillery contributed to the brilliant military successes of Napoleon in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He joined the French army in 1732, and was promoted to the rank of officer within three years. During the Seven Years’ War, which lasted from 1756 until 1763, Gribeauval was attached to the Austrian army as a general of artillery. Returning to France as a lieutenant general, he attempted to use the knowledge he had gained in Austria to improve his country’s obsolete artillery system.
In 1776, Gribeauval was assigned to the position of general of artillery. He trained younger officers, including Napoleon Bonaparte, and was able to implement his artillery reforms on a broad scale. He also introduced many reforms that made the French army a leader in the use of artillery.