Ferdinand Foch, Marshal (1851-1929, Year of Entry: 1871)

After his time at École Polytechnique, Ferdinand Foch embraced a military career following his enlistment in the 4th Infantry Regiment at the time of France’s defeat in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. He taught general tactics at the École de Guerre in 1895, and later took over as its Director. He was a general when he was appointed as Deputy Commander-in-Chief in 1914. Foch held various positions of command, and, in 1917, became Chief of General Staff of the Army in the Ministry of War (now the Ministry of the Armed Forces). The following year, he was awarded the titles of Supreme Commander (Généralissime) of the Allied Armies, and Marshal of France. He was one of the signatories of the Armistice, and was given the ranks of Field Marshal of Great Britain and Marshal of Poland. Foch was accepted into the Académie Française just after joining the French Academy of Sciences.