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COMMANDER // 1760–1793

Jean Léchelle

generalFrance3 battles1 war

Lifespan

1760 – 1793

1760176517701775178017851790War in the Vendée · 1793-1796Battle of Cholet — October 17, 1793 · French Republic · War in the VendéeBattle of Entrames — October 26, 1793 · First French Republic · War in the VendéeBattle of La Tremblaye — October 15, 1793 · French Republic · War in the Vendée

Active service 1793 — 3 battles across 1 war; first command at age 33.

Profile

Jean Léchelle or Jean L'Échelle briefly commanded a French army during the French Revolutionary Wars. Having served in the French Royal Army as a youth, the outbreak of the French Revolution found him employed as a fencing master. He was elected to lead a volunteer National Guard battalion which fought at Valmy and Jemappes in 1792. He earned promotion to general officer after distinguishing himself at the Siege of Valenciennes and saving a representative from an angry mob. He won such favor with the politicians and the war office that he was rapidly catapulted into command of an army in the War in the Vendée. After the capable battalion leader demonstrated his total unfitness for the post of army commander, he was just as quickly arrested and thrown into prison where he died, a probable suicide.

Source · Wikipedia · Q3173296

Battles (3)

Last verified June 2026
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