General Pierre-Charles Lochet
Born: February 4, 1767
Place of Birth: Châlons-sur-Marne, Marne, France
Died: February 8, 1807
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Place of Death: Eylau, Prussia
Arc de Triomphe: LOCHET on the north pillar
Pronunciation:
Pierre-Charles Lochet first joined the military as a fusilier in the Queen's Regiment at age 17 in 1784. Five years later in June of 1789 he quit the service, only to return in September of 1791 when he joined the 2nd Battalion of Volunteers of the Marne and was elected a capitaine. After serving at the camp of Givet, he went to the Army of the North in 1793 and was promoted to chef de bataillon in 1794. Later that year Lochet joined the Army of the West and then eventually ended up with the Army of the Coasts of the Ocean where he was promoted to chef de brigade in 1796.
In November of 1796 Lochet embarked on the ship Le Trajan as part of the expedition to Ireland led by General Hoche. Two years later he was appointed to the Army of England and that May he led his men in successfully repulsing the English at Ostend and taking 2000 prisoners. The next year Lochet joined the Army of the Danube and in 1800 he joined the Army of the Rhine. Serving in Molitor's brigade, Lochet fought at Messkirch and Memmingen that May, Feldkirch in July, and then at Kremsmunster in December.
Lochet's next major career advancement came in 1803 when he joined the Army of Hanover and was promoted to général de brigade. In 1804 he was employed at the Camp of Bruges and rewarded as a Commander of the Legion of Honor.
As war broke out in 1805, General Lochet assumed command of the 1st Brigade of Friant's division in III Corps. He served throughout the campaign that year and fought at Austerlitz. The next year Lochet continued to serve in Friant's division and fought at Auerstadt and Nasielsk. At the Battle of Eylau in February of 1807, Lochet was killed by a ball to the face.
Bibliography
Updated January 2014
© Nathan D. Jensen