Louis Baraguey d'Hilliers

Louis Baraguay d'Hilliers (August 13, 1764 - January 6, 1813), born in Paris, was a French revolutionary and Napoleonic general. He was the father of Marshal of France Achille Baraguey d'Hilliers.

Baraguey d'Hilliers, a minor noble, entered the French army as a lieutenant in 1784. At the start of the French Revolutionary Wars, he decided to remain in France. By 1793, he had been promoted during the siege of Mainz to "général de brigade" and served as chief of staff to Custine. When Custine was arrested, Baraguey d'Hilliers was arrested as well. Luckier than his chief who died under the guillotine, Baraguey d'Hilliers was released after the death of Robespierre.

In 1796, Baraguey d'Hilliers commanded part of Paris against insurgents. After another spell in prison on suspicion of royalist tendencies, he was posted to Hoche's army. Transferred to Italy, he served under Napoléon Bonaparte and was involved in the capture of Bergamo. Promoted to "général de division" in 1797 he was governor of Venice until the Austrians recaptured the town. In 1798, he accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt but after the French captured Malta he was sent back to France with the trophies. However, on his way back his ship was intercepted by the Royal Navy and he was made prisoner. After his release he faced a court martial but acquitted, he joined MacDonald as his chief of staff.

In 1801, Baraguey d'Hilliers was appointed Inspector General of infantry and in 1804 he became colonel general of the dragoons. He commanded the reserve cavalry during the campaign of 1805 and distinguished himself at the battle of Elchingen and Austerlitz. In 1808 he again became governor of Venice. During the campaign of 1809 he served under the Viceroy Eugène de Beauharnais and distinguished himself at Raab. He then served for some time as governor of Tirol with orders to pacify the region. In 1810 he was sent to Spain where he served in Catalonia. Recalled from Spain, he served in the Russian campaign of 1812. During the retreat from Moscow, Baraguey d'Hilliers and his division had to surrender on November 9 to the Russians, for which he fell in disgrace with the emperor. He died in January in Berlin.