Louis Leon Cesar Faidherbe, a French soldier, born in Lille, June 3, 1818. He studied at Paris and Metz, served in Algeria and Guadeloupe, and became in 1854 governor of Senegal, where he distinguished himself and considerably extended the French possessions. After a brief command in Algeria he was sent again to Senegambia, and remained there as governor till 1865, when he became commander of the military division of Bona in Algeria. After the capture of the citadel of Amiens by the Germans, at the end of November, 1870, he was appointed by Gam-betta commander-in-chief of the northern army and of the third military division. With about 50,000 men he took the offensive near Amiens, and after various unfortunate engagements was thoroughly defeated at Bapaume, Jan. 3, 1871, Peronne capitulating Jan. 10, after three weeks' resistance; and he was overwhelmed at St. Quentin, Jan. 19. His forces were completely disorganized and retreated toward Lille, and the northern army was disbanded in March. In June he was elected by Lille to the national assembly, and in 1872 he resigned his commission in the army.

He has written Chapitre de geographic sur le nord-ouest de l'Afrique (1864); Collection complete des inscriptions numidiques (1870); and Campagne de Varmee du nord (1871, several times reprinted).