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.