Joseph Souham

Profile

Joseph, comte Souham was a French general who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was born at Lubersac and died at Versailles. After long service in the French Royal Army, he was elected to lead a volunteer battalion in 1792 during the French Revolution. He was promoted to general of division in September 1793 after playing a prominent role in the defense of Dunkirk. In May 1794 with his commander absent, he took temporary command of the Army of the North and defeated the Coalition army at Tourcoing. He led the covering forces at the siege of Ypres and participated in the successful invasion of the Dutch Republic. He spent many years in occupation duties in Holland and then his career suffered because of his association with Pichegru and Moreau. Starting in 1809 he was employed in Spain during the Peninsular War, winning the Battle of Vich where he was wounded. When he was in army command again, he forced Wellington's army to retreat at Tordesillas in 1812 and became one of the few French generals to remain undefeated in the war. The following year he led a division at Lützen and a corps at Leipzig. He remained loyal to the Bourbons during the Hundred Days.

Source · Wikipedia · Q1064944

Battles (6)

• 1792

  Flanders Campaign

  French Revolutionary Wars · Kingdom of the French

• 1794

  Battle of Mouscron

  War of the First Coalition · Republican France

• 1794

  Battle of Tourcoing

  War of the First Coalition · Republican France

• 1799

  Battle of Stockach

  War of the Second Coalition · French Directory

• 1808

  Battle of Molins de Rey

  Peninsular War · First French Empire

• 1810

  Battle of Vic

  Peninsular War · First French Empire