Alfred Amédée Dodds

Alfred Amédée Dodds (born February 6, 1842 in St. Louis , Senegambia , † July 18, 1922 in Paris ) was a French Général de division who played a leading role in the colonization of West Africa by France .

Dodds entered the Saint-Cyr military school in 1862 and then commanded a company of marine infantry near Bazeilles in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 . In 1875 he fought in Cayor , in 1887/88 he was in Tongking and, after being promoted to colonel in 1887 , took part in all military operations in Senegambia .

In May 1892 Dodds received the supreme command of the expeditionary corps sent to Dahomé and after victorious battles took the capital Abome on November 17 , whereupon he was appointed brigadier general . This victory was important for the unification of the French possessions in West Africa. The following year he undertook a new expedition to render the escaped King Behanzin harmless, which he succeeded in doing when he was captured in January 1894.

Returned to France he was given command of the 4th Marine Brigade in Toulon and was sent back to Tongking in February 1896 to take on the leadership of an expedition planned against the black flags. Recalled in July 1896, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade in Brest in 1897. In 1899 he was promoted to division general and in 1900 was given supreme command of the troops of the 20th Colonial Army Corps in Indochina . In 1907 he transferred to the reserve and served in the autonomous high command for warfare until 1914.

Alfred Amédée Dodds died on July 18, 1922 in Paris.

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personal data
SURNAME	Dodds, Alfred Amédée
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	French officer
DATE OF BIRTH	February 6, 1842
PLACE OF BIRTH	Saint-Louis (Senegal)
DATE OF DEATH	July 18, 1922
Place of death	Paris