Jean-Baptiste Darlan | |
|---|---|
 Darlan in 1896 | |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 29 April 1896 – 1 December 1897 | |
| Preceded by | Louis Ricard |
| Succeeded by | Victor Milliard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1848-06-10)10 June 1848 Podensac, Gironde, France |
| Died | 8 December 1912(1912-12-08) (aged 64) Nérac, Lot-et-Garonne, France |
Jean-Baptiste Darlan (10 June 1848 – 8 December 1912) was a French politician who wasMinister of Justice in 1896–97.
Jean-Baptiste Darlan was born on 10 June 1848 inPodensac, Gironde, son of a sea captain.[1]A distant cousin of his had been a sailor on the ship that killedNelson during theBattle of Trafalgar.His grandfather was a master mariner.His father owned two ships that sailed between France and Mexico, and was mayor of Podensac.[2]Darlan studied at thelycée in Bordeaux, then obtained his law degree at the faculty of Paris.During theFranco-Prussian War of 1870 he was a non-commissioned officer in the forces ofLot-et-Garonne.[2]
When his father died in 1872 Darlan had to sell the two ships, and with the proceeds bought the position of notary inMarmande.In 1877 he married Marie Marguerite Espagnac, daughter of aNérac doctor, who brought a substantial dowry.Darlan sold his practice as a notary and set up as an attorney in Nérac.They had two children. Hélène married a ship's captain andFrançois Darlan later became an admiral.[2]François was born on 7 August 1881.[3]Marie Marguerite died in 1885 at the age of 34.[2]
In 1878 Darlan joined the Association from Propagation of Republican Ideas, and became afreemason.As a member of theGrand Lodge he progressed through the ranks to becomeVénérable in the lodgeL'Auguste amitié inCondom. He became a friend ofArmand Fallières and ofGeorges Leygues, who would many years later make his son chief of staff of the Ministry of Marine. In 1880 he became municipal councilor of Nérac, and was mayor of Nérac from 1880–82 and 1888–96.From 1886 to 1898 he was a member of the general council of theLot-et-Garonne department.[2]
Darlan was elected deputy forLot-et-Garonne in a by-election on 27 July 1890 by a landslide, and was easily reelected in the general election of 20 August 1893.On 29 April 1896 he was appointed Minister of Justice in the cabinet ofJules Méline, and on 26 September 1896 was also appointed Minister of Religious Affairs.[1]When he was in office there was growing public debate over theDreyfus affair. Darlan was opposed to reviewing the trial of 1894.[4]Auguste Scheurer-Kestner, vice-president of the Senate, became convinced that Dreyfus was innocent and came to see Darlan on 5 November 1896. Darlan said he could not support a premature investigation.[5]
On 30 November 1897 Darlan was challenged over the appointment of two magistrates, said to have been made for political reasons, and was censured by the Senate. He resigned the next day.He lost his seat in the general elections of 8–22 May 1898.[1]
Darlan was namedpercepteur-receveur in Paris in 1899.He died on 8 December 1912 inNérac, Lot-et-Garonne.[1]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
