French general who briefly succeeded the wounded MacMahon at Sedan and led the largest sortie of the siege of Paris
He served in the Crimean War, Algeria and the Italian campaign of 1859. At the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War he oversaw the deployment of French forces because he knew the ground near Wissembourg, but his unsupported division was surprised and defeated there by a large Prussian and Bavarian force. At Sedan on 1 September 1870 he succeeded to command when MacMahon was wounded, summed up the situation by saying they were "in a chamber pot" and ordered a withdrawal, until Wimpffen produced a commission to succeed MacMahon, overruled him and ordered a counterattack that failed completely. Refusing responsibility for signing the surrender, he was imprisoned by the Prussians, escaped and commanded the most important French attack on the besiegers of Paris, at Villiers from 29 November to 3 December 1870. After its defeat he urged the government to make peace.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1859Italian campaign
- 1870Division commander at Wissembourg; briefly in command at Sedan
- 1870Siege of Paris; commanded at the Battle of Villiers