Pierre-Auguste Sarrus

Who was Pierre-Auguste Sarrus?

Pierre-Auguste Sarrus was a French musician and inventor.

He joined the army at the age of 23.

November 27, 1843: Sarrus is affected to the 74th Régiment d'Infanterie as corporal-chief of the music, it is the start of his military musician career.

August 18, 1846: wedding with Mélanie Bellemère.

1852: Sarrus receives the Médaille militaire.

1854: Member of the Expédition d'Orient, he receives the Médaille de Crimée.

April 2, 1855: he is affected to the 13th Régiment d'Infanterie.

July 10, 1855: he is promoted officer.

1860-61: member of the Campaign of Syria.

1863: he receives the 5th class Turkish Médjidié's order and the Victoria Cross.

December 26, 1864: he is made knight of the Légion d'honneur.

July 10, 1867: Sarrus gets retired, he was then chief of music of the 13th Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne.

Nevertheless, Pierre-Auguste Sarrus is not famous for his military career, but for having invented a music instrument to replace the oboe and bassoon in military music in 1856. Pierre-Louis Gautrot built this instrument and patented it under the name sarrusophone.