Francois Achille Bazaine was a French soldier. He was born in 1811 at Versailles and died in 1888. He entered the army as a private soldier in 1831, and served in Algeria with distinction, gaining the cross of the Legion of Honour, and rising to the rank of lieutenant. He next went to Spain and fought in the foreign legion against the Carlists and in 1839 returned to Algeria, where he latterly held the rank of colonel in 1850.
He was next engaged in the Crimean war, being at first commander of a brigade and then general of division, leading the French troops sent to attack the fortress of Kinburn in 1855. He did good service also in the Italian war of 1859, being actively engaged in the battle of Solferino. His military reputation was increased by the part he took in the Mexican expedition during 1862 to 1864, in which he led the first division under Forey, and when this general was recalled became commander-in-chief of the French forces in Mexico and marshal of France.
On the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 he was appointed to the command of the 3rd Army Corps, after a series of defeats culminating at Gravelotte he withdrew his army to Metz where he subsequently surrendered to the Prussians. After the war he was court-martialled in 1873 for surrendering the city of Metz and for negotiating with the enemy, was convicted and sentenced to death, though the sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment. In 1874 he escaped from prison and made his way to Madrid where he lived the remainder of his life. Research Francois Bazaine
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