Charles Le Gendre
Charles William or Guillaum Joseph Émile Le Gendre (August 26, 1830– September 1, 1899) was a French-born American officer and diplomat who served as advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan from 1872 to 1875 and as advisor to Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire from 1890 to 1899. Biography Early life Le Gendre was born in Oullins, France. He was the son of Jean-François Legendre-Héral, a noteworthy painter, sculptor and professor at the École de Beaux-Arts. Le Gendre was educated at the Royal College of Reims, but he eventually graduated from the University of Paris. At the age of 24, he married Clara Victoria Mulock in Brussels. She was the daughter of a well-known New York lawyer and soon after their marriage Le Gendre moved to the United States and became a naturalized citizen. Civil War military career With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Le Gendre helped recruit the 51st New York Volunteer Infantry; he was commissioned a major of that regiment on October 29, 1861. Le Gendre participated in combat in North Carolina and was present at the capture of Roanoke Island in 1862. However, he was badly wounded