Jean-Ernest Ducos de La Hitte

Jean Ernest Ducos de La Hitte, Viscount, was born on 5 September 1789 in Bessières (Haute-Garonne), and died on 22 September 1878 in Gragnague (Haute-Garonne).

He was a French major general, Senator, Foreign Minister, and the implementer of the La Hitte system of rifled guns in 1858.

One year after (1830), he commanded the artillery in Africa during the capture of Algiers.

[1] He created the La Hitte system of rifled muzzle-loading guns in 1858:[2] "It would be unjust to omit on this occasion the name of General La Hitte, who at once took upon himself the responsibility of the new principles, and has continued with the utmost ability to carry them into execution.

It is mainly to his firm adherence to these principles, and to the general uniformity of the system he established, that the success of the new arm is to be attributed"