Baron De Kalb
De Kalb, Baron, the assumed name of Johann Kalb (1721–1780), an officer in the French army, and later in the American army during the Revolutionary War. He was born in Bavaria. Kalb joined the French army in 1743 under the name of Jean de Kalb, and eventually attained the rank of brigadier general. He assumed the title of Baron de Kalb, to which he had no right, to further his military career.
The French government in 1768 sent de Kalb on a confidential mission to the British American colonies, and in 1777 he accompanied Lafayette. He was made a major general in the American army. He joined the main army under Washington, serving later in New Jersey and in Maryland. In 1780 de Kalb was made second in command under General Gates. He was fatally wounded in the battle of Camden, South Carolina.