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French army officer and composer, author of France's national anthem 'La Marseillaise'.Born in Lons-le-Saunier, he served as an engineer in the French army. Composed 'Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin' (later 'La Marseillaise') in 1792. Imprisoned during the Reign of Terror for royalist sympathies. Died impoverished despite creating one of history's most iconic revolutionary songs.

• Composed 'La Marseillaise' in a single night (April 24-25, 1792) while stationed in Strasbourg during revolutionary fervor, inspired by a plea for a battle hymn.
• Originally titled 'Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin' (War Song for the Army of the Rhine), it gained fame when volunteers from Marseille sang it while marching to Paris, leading to its popular name.
• Despite creating France's revolutionary anthem, Rouget de Lisle was a constitutional monarchist. He was imprisoned in 1793 during the Reign of Terror and narrowly avoided execution.
• Spent his final years in poverty, writing unsuccessful plays and poems. Died from natural causes at 76, unaware 'La Marseillaise' had been officially adopted as France's national anthem in 1795 (and permanently in 1879).
• His remains were transferred to Les Invalides in 1915 during WWI as a national tribute, over 75 years after his death.