Jean Baptiste Noël Bouchotte

Jean Baptiste Noël Bouchotte was born in 1754 in Metz.  His early military career had not been entirely successful as he was unable to move above the rank of captain in the old regime.  

During the war against the Austrians during the Revolution his career accelerated when Dumouriez defected to the Austrians he was made colonel and successfully defended Cambrai.  This achievement was noted when he was made Minister of War in April 1793.

He had many Girondin opponents but this ceased to be a problem when they were expelled from the Convention on the 2nd June 1793.  From this point he was able to shape the army into more of a revolutionary one and it began more to reflect the politics of Paris.  He removed many of what he deemed as conservative civil servants and officers and replaced them with nominations from the Paris Sections.  Although he was never able to solve all of the supply problems that faced the army.  Things did begin to improve for the armies of France when they won at the Battle of Fleurus.

After the Thermidorian reaction he was arrested by the anti revolutionaries.  He was acquitted however.  He never rose to the former heights of his career and despite supporting Bonaparte's Brumaire Coup he never rose above the level of a colonel and was given a pension by the Emperor.  He lived until 1840.