Michel Maunoury was born in 1847. He had a long career in the French Army and was called out of retirement on the outbreak of the First World War.

On 14th August, 1914, Maunoury joined Ferdinand Foch and Auguste Dubail in leading the French Army into Lorraine.

After the failure of the invasion of Lorraine Maunoury was given command of the French Sixth Army on the Western Front. He took part in the Battle of the Marne but was forced to leave the French Army after being seriously wounded in 1915.

Michel Maunoury died in 1923.