Duquesnoy was born to a farmer in
Bouvigny-Boyeffles, France on 27 February 1761. He was the brother of
Ernest Dominique Francois Joseph Duquesnoy who later became a representative of the
First French Republic. He enlisted in the
Carabiniers-à-Cheval in 1782 but was discharged in 1790. He became
captain in the 4th
Pas-de-Calais National Guard Battalion on 28 January 1792. He transferred to the 4th
Chasseurs Battalion on 16 November that year. He was promoted to
general of brigade on 30 July 1793 and put in charge of the camp of
Cassel in August. He assumed the rank of
general of division on 3 September 1793, despite the pleas of his brother not to promote him. After the
Battle of Wattignies on 15–16 October 1793, he was transferred to the
Army of the West on 27 November to fight in the
War in the Vendée. He was suspended on 14 May 1795 and placed on inactive status on 1 January 1796. He died on 1 July 1801. ==Notes==