Jean de Laborde

comte

Jean de Laborde

Legion of Honor
comte; Jean de Laborde; Legion of Honor
Birth name	Jean Joseph Jules Noël de Laborde
Nickname	Comte Jean
Born	29 November 1878; Chantilly, France
Died	30 July 1977 (aged 98); Castillon-la-Bataille
Allegiance	French Third Republic; Vichy France
Branch	French Navy
Service years	1897–1943
Rank	Admiral
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;
Conflicts	Boxer Rebellion; World War I; World War II; Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon;
Awards	Legion of Honor (stripped); Médaille militaire (stripped); Croix de guerre 1914-1918; Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France); Ordre du Mérite Maritime; 1901 China expedition commemorative medal; Morocco commemorative medal (1909); Colonial Medal; Distinguished Service Medal (U.S.); Order of Ouissam Alaouite; Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom); Order of Glory (Tunisia);
Spouse	Rose Marie Saldo

Jean de Laborde (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ də 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.