Jean-Baptiste Darlan was born on 10 June 1848 in Podensac, Gironde, son of a sea captain.

[2] Darlan studied at the lycée in Bordeaux, then obtained his law degree at the faculty of Paris.

[2] When his father died in 1872 Darlan had to sell the two ships, and with the proceeds bought the position of notary in Marmande.

In 1877 he married Marie Marguerite Espagnac, daughter of a Nérac doctor, who brought a substantial dowry.

He became a friend of Armand Fallières and of Georges Leygues, who would many years later make his son chief of staff of the Ministry of Marine.

[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.