Jean Marchessou

Marcel Alix Jean Marchessou was a French colonial administrator, spending over 30 years in Africa.

Biography

Marchessou became the first Mayor of Bangui in 1912. He served as Acting Governor-General of French Equatorial Africa in 1927, before becoming Acting Governor of Moyen-Congo in December 1929, remaining in post for just over a year. He was Acting Governor-General of French Equatorial Africa again in September–October 1934, and again between March 1935 and April 1936. He was also briefly head of Dahomey in 1934.
In December 1936 he moved to New Caledonia to start a two-year term as Governor of New Caledonia, Commissioner General in the Pacific and High Commissioner to the New Hebrides. During his time in the Pacific he gained the nickname "Marche dessous" due to his height of only 5'. After finishing his term, he returned to France.
Following World War II he was excluded from the Legion of Honour for his alleged role in court-martialing members of the French resistance in Riom during the Vichy regime.