Bazaine, Achille François (1811–1888)

Marshal of France. From being a private soldier in 1831 he rose to command the French troops in Mexico 1862–67 and was made a marshal in 1864. In the Franco-Prussian War Bazaine allowed himself to be taken in the fortress of Metz, surrendering on 27 October 1870 with nearly 180,000 men. For this he was court-martialled in 1873 and imprisoned; he escaped to Spain in 1874.