Jean-Jacques Uhrich

The tomb of Jean-Jacques Uhrich at the Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris with a bust by Augustin Courtet. Jean-Jacques Alexis Uhrich, (born 15 February 1802 in Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, died 9 October 1886 in Paris) was a French général de division (divisional general). He was the great uncle of Général d'armée Maurice Gamelin (1872–1958). Military governor of the city of Strasbourg in 1870, Uhrich is best known for his service during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) as the commander of French forces during the Siege of Strasbourg and for surrendering the city to German forces.

Biography 1818–1867 Jean-Jacques Uhrich attended the French military academy at Saint-Cyr from 1818 to 1820, and was a member of Saint-Cyr's first graduating class since the Bourbon Restoration. Other notable members of his graduating class included Roch Pâris de Bollardière (1803–1866), great-grandfather of Général de brigade Jacques Pâris de Bollardière (1907–1986); the journalist and writer Armand Carrel (1800–1836), who died in a duel; and the général de division and politician Prudent de Chasseloup-Laubat (1802–1863). Uhrich later graduated from the French Army′s Infantry School.

Uhrich′s first assignment was to the French Army′s 3rd Light Infantry Regiment with the rank of sous-lieutenant.

Siege of Strasbourg

When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, Uhrich was recalled to active service. and at his own request became military governor of Strasbourg. — on 14 August Werder informed Uhrich that his forces would begin an intensive bombardment of the city if it did not surrender, and, after Uhrich refused, the bombardment began on 23 August. After the fourth night of heavy bombardment on 27 August, Werder reduced the level of bombardment to harassing fire and settled in for a long siege. and on 27 September Uhrich's subordinates advised him that further defense of the city was impractical. On 28 September, Uhrich — expecting a final German infantry assault to take the city to begin the following day

Descendants Uhrich's niece Pauline, daughter of his brother Gustave, intendant general of the army, married Auguste Gamelin (1837–1921), father of Général d'armée Maurice Gamelin (1872–1958), who during World War II commanded the French Army during both the Phony War period of 1939–1940 and the subsequent Battle of France in 1940.

Awards and honors 120px Commander of the Legion of Honor (1857) but has since regained the name Quai de la Bourse.

In Illkirch-Graffenstaden, one of the forts in Strasbourg's fortified square was named after Uhrich in 1918.