Jean Ernest Ducos de La Hitte, Viscount, was born on 5 September 1789 inBessières (Haute-Garonne), and died on 22 September 1878 inGragnague (Haute-Garonne). He was a French major general, Senator, Foreign Minister, and the implementer of theLa Hitte system of rifled guns in 1858.
He entered theEcole Polytechnique in 1807. He fought inSpain as an artillery lieutenant, in the campaigns of 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813 and 1814. He was in particular noticed at thesiege of Cadiz. He became Brigadier general on 22 February 1829, at 39 years of age. One year after (1830), he commanded the artillery in Africa during the capture ofAlgiers.
He was President of the Artillery committee during theRevolution of 1848. He becameMinister for Foreign Affairs from November 1849 until 9 January 1851.[1]
He created theLa Hitte system of rifledmuzzle-loading guns in 1858:[2]
"It would be unjust to omit on this occasion the name of General La Hitte, who at once took upon himself the responsibility of the new principles, and has continued with the utmost ability to carry them into execution. It is mainly to his firm adherence to these principles, and to the general uniformity of the system he established, that the success of the new arm is to be attributed"
— Lieutenant-colonelTreuille de Beaulieu, Report of theLondon International Exhibition, 1862.[3]
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| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 1849–1851 | Succeeded by |
Cabinet of Alphonse Henri d'Hautpoul (30 October 1849 – 24 January 1851) | ||
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Under the Presidency ofLouis Napoleon | ||
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