MOREAU, JEAN VICTOR ( 1763-1813 ) . A cele brated French general of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic period. He was horn August 11. 1763, at Slorlaix, in Brittany, and studied law at Rennes. In 1789 he embraced the cause of the Revolution, and was'later chosen to command the battalion of volunteers from his native town. He served under Dumouriez in 1793. and displayed such military talent that in 1794 he was made a general of division. Ilis father was put to death by the guillotine. hut _Moreau deeided that he could not withdraw from the service of his coun try. When Pichegru (q.v.) fell under suspicion in 1796, the Directory appointed to the chief command on the Rhine and lie crossed the Rhine at Kehl, defeated Latour at Rastatt, and the Archduke Charles at Neresheim, and drove the Austrians back to the Danube: but, owing to the defeat of Jourdan at Witrzhurg. he found himself in danger of being cut off from the Rhine, and was obliged to make a desperate effort to regain that river. which he accomplished in the face of great difficulties. fighting two un successful battles at Emmendingen and Hfiningen in October. A suspicion of partieipation in the plots of Piehegru led to his being deprived of Ids emumand in 1797, but in 1799 he succeeded Scherer in the command of the army in Italy. By a retreat conducted with consummate skill he saved the French army from destruction, though defeated April 27. 1799, by Swear°if at Cassano. The Directory deprived him of the chief coin mancl, and gore it to Joubert, hut Moreau remained with the army, and after the death of Joubert at Novi, August 15, 1799, again assumed the com mand. and conducted the troops back to France. The disinterestedness of Sloreau's character, his military talent, and his political moderation, brought him great popularity. Ile assisted
Bonaparte on the 1Sth Brumaire, and receiving the command of the Army of the llhine, gained victory after victory over the Austrians in the campaign of 1800. and on December 3d won the great and decisive battle of llohenlinden (q.v.). A feeling of mutual distrust now arose between Moreau and Bonaparte, and the former retired to his country seat. which became the gathering place of the discontented. 11e was accused of in the plot of Piehegru and Cadoudal (q.v.) against the life of the First Consul, and was arrested, brought to trial, and found guilty on June 10, 1804, although the evidence against him was worthless. But Bona parte could not venture to condelim him to death, and a. sentence of two years' imprisonment was therefore pronounced, which was commuted into banishment. Moreau went to America, he settled first in New Jersey, and later at Morris ville. Pa. Regarding with great dissatisfaction the whole Bonaparte's career, he joined in 1813 the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia in the march against Dresden, where, as he stood with the Emperor Alexander on a. height at 11iicknitz. on August 27th, a French cannon hall broke both his legs. Amputation was performed, but he died at Laun in Bohemia, September 2, 1813, and was buried in Saint Petersburg. Con sult: Beamhamp, Fie politique, milituire et prilcc die gi'mruI Morvuu (Paris, 1814; English translation. I..ondon, 1S141: Chateaunenf, Ilis toire du yt'nf'rul .11orrun (Paris, 1814).