born Aug. 7, 1881, Nérac, France
died Dec. 24, 1942, Algiers
French admiral.
After graduating from the French naval school (1902), he rose through the ranks to become navy commander in chief (1939). After France's defeat by Germany in World War II, he entered Philippe Pétain 's government as vice premier and foreign minister (194142), then became commander in chief of all Vichy France military forces. In 1942 he concluded an armistice with the Allies in Algiers, then was killed by an anti-Vichy assassin.