Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de Lamoricière (5 September 1806 – 11 September 1865) was a French general.

Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de Lamoricière
Portrait of Lamoricière, c. 1860s
Born(1806-09-05)5 September 1806
Nantes, France
Died11 September 1865(1865-09-11) (aged 59)
Prouzel, France
Allegiance Kingdom of France (Bourbon Restoration) (1828–1830)
 July Monarchy (1830–1848)
 French Second Republic (1848–1851)
 Papal States (1860)
Years of service1828–1851;
1860

Early life

edit

Juchault de Lamoricière was born in Nantes. He studied at the École Polytechnique and the École d'Application.

Service

edit

He was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in the Engineers in 1828.

In Algeria

edit

He served in the Algerian campaigns from 1830 onwards, being made a captain of Zouaves.[1] By 1840, Juchault de Lamoricière had risen to the grade of maréchal-de-camp (major-general). Three years later he was made a general of division. He was one of the most distinguished and efficient of Bugeaud's generals, rendering special service at Isly (14 August 1844). He acted temporarily as governor-general of Algeria, and finally effected the capture of Abd-el-Kader in 1847.[2]

Juchault de Lamoricière played a part in the political events of 1848, both as a member of the Chamber of Deputies and as a military commander. Under the regime of General Cavaignac he was for a time minister of war (28 June – 20 December 1848).

From 1848 to 1851 Juchault de Lamoricière was one of the most conspicuous opponents of the policies of Louis Napoleon, and following the coup d'état of 2 December 1851 he was arrested and exiled.[2] Juchault de Lamoricière refused to give his allegiance to the new Emperor Napoleon III.

In service to the Pope

edit

In 1860 he accepted command of the papal army, which he led in the Italian campaign of 1860.[1] On 18 September that year, he was severely defeated by the Italian army at Castelfidardo.[2]

Retirement

edit

His last years were spent in complete retirement in France where he had been allowed to return in 1857.

 
Cenotaph of Lamoricière in the Nantes cathedral.

Death and tomb

edit

He died at Prouzel (Somme) in 1865.[2] His tomb at Nantes Cathedral, designed by Paul Dubois, was completed in 1875.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Delamarre 1913.
  2. ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911, p. 131.
  3. ^ Harpers Magazine. Vol. 76. Harper's Magazine Co. 1888. p. 246.

Attribution:

Political offices
Preceded by Minister of War
28 June 1848 – 20 December 1848
Succeeded by