Jean de Laborde

comte

Jean de Laborde

Birth nameJean Joseph Jules Noël de Laborde
Nickname(s)Comte Jean
Born(1878-11-29)29 November 1878
Chantilly, France
Died30 July 1977(1977-07-30) (aged 98)
Castillon-la-Bataille
Allegiance French Third Republic
 Vichy France
Service / branch French Navy
Years of service1897–1943
RankAdmiral
Commands
  • Chief of Naval Aviation
  • Béarn aircraft carrier
  • Toulon maritime sector
  • Commander-in-chief 4th maritime region
  • Commander-in-chief Atlantic squadron
  • Commander-in-chief western maritime forces
  • Chief of Forces de Haute Mer
Battles / wars
Awards
Spouse(s)Rose Marie Saldo

Jean de Laborde (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ labɔʁd]; 29 November 1878 – 30 July 1977) was a French admiral who had a long career starting at the end of the 19th century and extending to World War II after which he was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. A pioneer of naval aviation in France, he captained the first French aircraft carrier, earned many awards, and held many top posts. He is most well known for his final military act, the scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon, after he refused to allow Germany to seize his fleet or to order his fleet to join the Allies during the German occupation of Vichy France in World War II, which left his prestige in ruins and led to his arrest and conviction for treason.