Hofer, Andreas (1767–1810)

Tirolese patriot. In 1809 he called the Tirolese to arms to expel the French and Bavarians, and they swept the latter out in seven weeks, overwhelming them at Sterzing. By this victory the Austrians temporarily occupied Innsbruck. By the Treaty of Schonbrunn, however, the Tirol was again ceded to Bavaria, and although Hofer again took up arms, he had to disband his followers and seek refuge in the mountains; he was betrayed, captured, and shot at Mantua. Hofer was born in St Leonard in the Passeier valley, Austria, where he became an inn-keeper.