Lamoricière, Christophe-Louis-Léon Juchault de

(1806-1865)

   general, political figure

   Born in Nantes, Christophe-Louis-Léon Juchault de Lamoricière was a graduate of the École polytechnique and took part in the conquest of Algeria, distinguishing himself during the siege of Constantine (October 1837) and the Battle of Isly (August 1844). With the duke d'aumale,he received as well the surrender of the Emir Abd el-Kader (1847). After the revolution of 1848, he entered the Constituent Assembly as a moderate republican and was named minister of war by jean-baptiste cavaignac. Opposed to napoléon III, he was imprisoned in the fortress of Ham after the coup d'état of December 2, 1851, then banished (1852-57). In 1860, he went over to the service of the pope, reorganizing the papal troops of which he was named general in chief but, defeated at Castelfidardo (September 18) by the Piedmontese, General Lamoricière was forced to surrender at Ancona.