Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu

French Naval Officer and Priest

Born: 1889 at Brest, Finistere, Brittany
Died: September 7, 1964

     The son of a naval officer, he graduated from l'Ecole Navale at Brest in 1906, served in the First World War then abandoned his military career to enter the Carmelite order in 192o. As Father Louis of the Trinity he rose to the position of Provincial Superior of the Carmelite Order in France.

     D'Argenlieu was recalled to active duty as a Captain in 1939, was taken prisoner in June 1940 but escaped to join de Gaulle. He took part and was wounded in the unsuccessful raid on Vichy forces at Dakar in August 1940 then took command of the Free French Navy in Equatorial Africa.

     D'Argenlieu was High Commissioner for the Pacific with full military and civil powers from 1941 to 1943 when he was appointed Commander in Chief of all Free French naval forces. He was promoted to Admiral in 1945.

     D'Argenlieu was sent to Indochina following the Japanese surrender to reassert French sovereignty over the colony. He was recalled to Paris in 1947, served a brief term as Inspector General of Maritime forces and finally returned to religious life.

     D'Argenlieu was made a Compagnion de la Liberation and served as Grand Chancellor in the Order of the Liberation until 1958.