[François Girardot (1773-1831) the surgeon of Light - Cavalrymen Regiment of Napoleon I Guard]

The paper is the first wider biographic study presentif life and activity of François Girardot (1773-1831), a French physician, a surgeon of Polish light-cavalrymen regiment of Napoleon I guard for many years; since 1816 permanently domiciled in the Congress Kingdom of Poland, in Warsaw and Opinogóra, as a family doctor of Krasińskis family. There are his relations with Poland recalled, started in 1798 already, there are shown some famous patients of Girardot - Klementyna Hoffman of Tańskis, Zygmunt Krasiński and Fryderyk Chopin. There is also the attention drawn to his medical activity among poor population of Warsaw. The fact is underlined, that Girardot as the only physician was made by Napoleon the baron of Empire at the battle field (Craonne, 7th March, 1814), directly after injury, the effect of which there was an amputation of leg. It is also indicated, that despite unquestionable military merits, confirmed by numerous awards and the title of baron granted, and also medical merits of Girardot, he is still remaining a personage not well known to the historians of Napoleonic period.