Franz von Lauer
| Franz von Lauer | |
|---|---|
Franz von Lauer
|
|
| Born | 11 May 1736 |
| Died |
11 September 1803 (aged 67) Krems, Austria |
| Allegiance |
 Habsburg Monarchy
|
| Service/branch | Engineers |
| Years of service | 1755-1801 |
| Rank | Feldzeugmeister |
| Battles/wars |
Seven Years' War Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791) French Revolutionary Wars |
| Awards | Military Order of Maria Theresa, Knight's Cross 1789, Commander's Cross 1795 |
Franz von Lauer (11 May 1736 – 11 September 1803) began his service in the Austrian army as an engineer officer and became a general officer while fighting against Ottoman Turkey. He earned recognition as a siege specialist while fighting the armies of the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars. He served as Chief of staff of the army fighting against Napoleon Bonaparte in Italy in 1796. Appointed as deputy commander of the army in southern Germany, his efforts ended in a military disaster in December 1800.
Born in 1736, Lauer studied at the Engineer Academy and joined the army of Habsburg Austria army in 1755. After being promoted to Captain during the Seven Years' War, he became an expert in siege warfare. He received promotion to Major in 1773, Oberstleutnant in 1779, and Oberst in 1783. During the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791) he earned appointment to the rank of General-Major and the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa for his distinguished actions at the Siege of Belgrade in 1789. He was appointed the noble rank of Freiherr in 1790.
Lauer fought on the upper Rhine River under the command of Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser in 1793-1794. On 13 October 1793, Wurmser's army defeated the French in the First Battle of Wissembourg. Putting his engineering talents to good use, Lauer conducted a successful Siege of Fort-Louis beginning the day after the battle. On 14 November, he accepted the surrender of the 4,500-man French garrison and fortress, which was then situated on an island in the Rhine River. Still with Wurmser, he fought at the successful Siege of Mannheim in late 1795. For notable actions in capturing a redoubt on 30 October, he earned the Commander's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa. Promotion to Feldmarschall-Leutnant followed on 4 March 1796.
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