Hoche, Louis Lazare

Hoche, Louis Lazare (läzär` ôsh), 1768–97, French general in the French Revolutionary Wars. He entered the army at the age of 16 and rose rapidly to lieutenant in the national guard by 1792. In 1793, after his successful defense of Dunkirk, he became a brigadier general and was given command of the army of the Moselle. In 1793, he drove the Austrians across the Rhine and was appointed division general. Accused of treason by his rival, General Pichegru, Hoche was imprisoned in 1794. After his release, he was given the command in the Vendée. He pacified (1795) that province, but his attempted invasion of Ireland (1796) was thwarted by bad weather. In 1797 he defeated the Austrians at Neuwied.