Gerhard von Scharnhorst

*Generalleutnant*

Gerhard von Scharnhorst
Generalleutnant; Gerhard von Scharnhorst
Birth name	Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst
Born	12 November 1755; Bordenau, Electorate of Hanover, Holy Roman Empire
Died	28 June 1813 (aged 57); Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia, Austrian Empire
Buried	Invalidenfriedhof
Allegiance	Prussia
Service/branch	Prussian Army
Years of service	1778–1813
Rank	Generalleutnant
Battles/wars	War of the Fourth Coalition Battle of Jena–Auerstedt (1806); Battle of Eylau (1807); War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Lützen (1813) (DOW);
Awards	Pour le Mérite

Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (12 November 1755 – 28 June 1813) was a Hanoverian-born general in Prussian service from 1801. As the first Chief of the Prussian General Staff, he was noted for his military theories, his reforms of the Prussian army, and his leadership during the Napoleonic Wars. Scharnhorst limited the use of corporal punishments, established promotion for merit, abolished the enrollment of foreigners, began the organization of a reserve army, and organized and simplified the military administration.