Forey

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ÉLIE FRÉDÉRIC, a French military officer; born in Paris, France, Jan. 10, 1804; was admitted to the Military School of St. Cyr in 1822. He took part in the first expedition to Algiers, and distinguished himself at the battle of Medeah, in the retreat which followed the first siege of Constantine, and at the Iron Gates. In 1840, he went through four other African campaigns, and returned to France with the rank of colonel in 1844, became a general in 1848, took an active part in the coup d'état of December, 1851, and was made a general of division and commander of the Legion of Honor in 1852. At the breaking out of the war with Russia, he was placed on the reserve division of the Army of the East, and for a time held the command the siege force before Sebastopol. In 1857 he was nominated to the first division of the army of Paris. He commanded this division during the Italian War in 1860, gained at Montebello the first battle of the campaign, and distinguished himself at Magenta and Solferino, being wounded at the latter. When the expedition to Mexico was decided upon in 1861, Forey received the command of the French troops. After several sanguinary engagements, he attacked and stormed the strong post of Puebla, thereby throwing open the road to the city of Mexico. For this service he was made Marshal of France, when he resigned his command to General Bazaine, and returned home, receiving the command of the 2d army corps in 1863. He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1859, and was elected to the Senate in that year. He died in Paris, France, June 20, 1872.