A pioneer of naval aviation in France, he captained the first French aircraft carrier, earned many awards, and held many top posts.

[1] After graduating, de Laborde was posted to the Far East in 1897 where he served first as Ensign in 1900 and took part in the Chinese campaign following the Boxer Rebellion.

In 1928 at the age of 50, he earned the rank of contre-amiral, (equivalent to rear admiral), and became commander of the maritime sector of Toulon, and in 1930, commander-in-chief of the 2nd Squadron.

[1] Pétain counted on the rivalry between de Laborde and Admiral of the fleet François Darlan to keep control[citation needed].

Following the capitulation of France and the rise of Vichy government under Philippe Pétain, Laborde decided to side with the regime, and was made commander of the High Seas Fleet.

In response, Nazi troops occupied the free zone, but paused outside Toulon, the base where most of the remaining French ships were moored.

[citation needed] After Liberation, during the Épuration légale, Laborde was sentenced to death by the Haute Cour de Justice (France) [fr] for treason and for failing to save the fleet by allowing it to defect to the Allies.