François d'Astier de La Vigerie

François d'Astier de La Vigerie (7 March 1886 – 9 October 1956) was a French military leader during two World Wars.

Having attended the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, he became a lieutenant in 1911 and was attached to a cavalry regiment when the First World War broke out in August 1914.

[citation needed] In July 1940, d'Astier refused to obey Darlan's order to attack British warships at Gibraltar, and a month later he was relieved of his command.

He was sent to Algeria to prepare for de Gaulle's arrival in North Africa, and was subsequently named commander of the French forces in the UK.

After carrying out further missions in Algeria and Spain, he rejoined de Gaulle after the liberation of Paris.