Suchet, LOUIS-GABRIEL

Suchet, LOUIS-GABRIEL, Duc d'Albufera, and marshal of France, was born, son of a silk manufacturer, at Lyons, 2d March 1770. At twenty-two he volunteered to the cavalry of the Lyons national guard, next fought in Italy, and by his conspicuous courage and ability at Lodi, Rivoli, Castiglione, Arcola, and a hundred battles, had risen by 1798 to be general of brigade. He added to his reputation in Egypt and again in Italy, served as general of division under Jonbert in 1799, and the year after was second in command to Masséna. He covered himself with glory by checking a vastly superior Austrian force under Melas (1800), and so preventing the invasion of the south of France. He took a distinguished part in the campaigns against Austria (1805) and Prussia (1806), and was subsequently (April 1809) appointed generalissimo of the French army in Aragon—his first independent command. By marvellous tact no less than military skill he reduced this stubborn province to complete submission within two years. He conquered at Mavia and Lerida, and took Tortosa and Tarragona, for which he was rewarded with a marshal's baton. In 1812 he destroyed the army of Blake at Sagunto, and on the 9th January of that year captured Valencia, earning the title of Duke of Albufera. The details of his five Spanish campaigns have been well given by him in his Mémoires sur ses Campagnes en Espagne (2 vols. Paris, 1829-34). He was created a peer of France by Louis XVIII., but joined Napoleon after his return from Elba, and was charged with the defence of the south-west frontier. Deprived of his peerage after the disaster of Waterloo, he did not return to court till it was restored in 1819. He died at the château of Saint-Joseph, near Marseilles, 3d January 1826. O'Meara and Las Cases tell us that of his generals Napoleon ranked Masséna first and Suchet second.