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Blücher entered the Swedish cavalry
in 1756 and then joined the Prussian army in 1760. He distinguished
himself against the French in 1793-94 and commanded the Prussian
rear guard at the Battle of Jena (1806). Around this time he met
Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst, who served as one of his
principal staff officers until Scharnhorst's death in June 1813.
After the Peace of Tilsit (1807) Blücher was employed for
a time in the War Department and then went into retirement.
In 1813, when war between France and Prussia broke out again,
Blücher, then 71 years old, returned to active service. He
took part in the battles of Lützen and Bautzen in May 1813,
and three months later at Wahlstatt (Legnickie Pole), on the Katzbach
(Kaczawa) River, he decisively defeated the French under Marshal
Jacques-Alexandre Macdonald, capturing 18,000 prisoners and more
than 100 guns. For his part in the Battle of Leipzig (October
1813) he was made a field marshal. After hard fighting he entered
Paris with other victorious Allied commanders in May 1814. He
then received his title of Prince of Wahlstatt and retired to
his estates.
After Napoleon's return in 1815, Blücher again assumed command
of the Prussian troops in Belgium, with August von Gneisenau as
his invaluable chief of staff. Blücher immediately set about
coordinating his force with that of the British and Allied forces
under the Duke of Wellington. At Ligny (June 16, 1815) he was
defeated by Napoleon; but, in order to ensure cooperation with
Wellington later, he withdrew his army toward Wavre, although
by so doing he endangered his own communications. His troops took
no part in the early stages of the Battle of Waterloo (June 18,
1815); but, urged on by Gneisenau, they made an exhausting countermarch
and appeared on the French right flank at a critical stage of
the battle. This action, together with a general advance by the
British, completed Napoleon's defeat. Blücher's cavalry continued
the pursuit of the French toward Paris throughout the night.
Blücher was described by a contemporary as a rough, ill-educated
man, but he was endowed with common sense and fiery energy. He
knew little of the higher art and science of war, and he required
a good chief of staff to guide him. On the battlefield, however,
his determination and personal courage and example proved invaluable.
Marshal Bluecher, nicknamed Vorwaertz (Forward!) spent the last part of his long military career fighting against France. After numerous defeats his efforts were rewarded at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Bluecher, member of a family with enormous properties in Mecklenburg, entered the Swedish army during the Seven Years' War. Captured by the Prussians in 1760, he became one of their recruits. His military eagerness won him the rank of lieutenant in 1762. Discharged because of misbehavior in 1773, he married the daughter of a colonel of the Polish royal guard.
In the military again fourteen years later (at the age of fifty two) he fought against the French revolutionary armies in 1793-4. On October 14, 1804, he was defeated by Davout at Auerstadt. After another two years he had to surrender to Bernadotte at Ratkau. Imprisoned in Hamburg, he was exchanged for General Victor. In 1809 he advocated the alliance with Austria, and Frederick Wilhelm entrusted the cavalry to him.
Finally, in 1813, he commanded the Silesian forces. In spite of the defeats of Grossgoerhen and Bautzen in May he wanted to march on Paris from the month of August. Then he won some victories. Victor at Leipzig October 16-18, he was promoted to marshal.In January he was in France. He was then suffering from depression and diseased eyes. Although he was accompanying the main army he did not enter Paris, and he resigned on April 2, 1814, at the age of 72, two days before the abdication of his enemy. Soon thereafter he obtained the title of prince.
None-the-less his career was not over. he served again during the Hundred Days. Commanding general of the Prussian army, he was defeated by Napoleon at Ligny on June 16, 1815. The eighteenth of June was the day of revenge. At Waterloo, at the side of Wellington, he led the decisive attack against the French right wing. Named military governor of Paris, he disapproved of the Second Treaty of Paris as too favorable to France. Beginning in 1817 he sat in the State Council in Berlin.
