Jean Baptiste Noel Bouchotte

Background

Jean Baptiste Noel Bouchotte was born at Metz, France on the 25th of December 1754.

Career

At the outbreak of the Revolution Bouchotte was a captain of cavalry, and his zeal led to his being made colonel and given the command at Cambrai. When Dumouriez delivered up to the Austrians the minister of war, the marquis de Beurnonville, in April 1793, Bouchotte, who had bravely defended Cambrai, was called by the Convention to be minister of war, where he remained until the 31st of March 1794. The predominant role of the Committee of Public Safety during that period did not leave much scope for the new minister. During the Thermidorian reaction, in spite of his incontestable honesty, he was accused by the anti-revolutionists. He was tried by the tribunal of the Eure-et-Loire and acquitted. Then he withdrew from politics, and lived in retirement until his death on the 8th of June 1840.

Achievements

• As Secretary of State for War he rendered some services in the organization of the republican armies, and chose his officers with insight, among them Kleber, Massena, Moreau and Bonaparte.