Louis Juchault de Lamoricière

Lamoricière was born in Nantes. He studied at the Ecole Polytechnique and the Ecole d'Application. He was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in the Engineers in 1828. He served in the Algerian campaigns from 1830 onwards, being made a captain of Zouaves.[1]

By 1840, 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]

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 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]

Lamoricière refused to give his allegiance to the new Emperor Napoleon III. 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]

His last years were spent in complete retirement in France where he had been allowed to return in 1857. He died at Prouzel (Somme) in 1865.[2]

His tomb at Nantes Cathedral, designed by Paul Dubois, was completed in 1875.[3]

Attribution

• Delamarre, Louis N. (1913). "Louis-Christophe-Leon Juchault de la Moricière" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lamoricière, Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• E. Keller, Le General de Lamoricière (Paris, 1873).