Jean Chiappe

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Jean Chiappe (b. Ajaccio, 3 May 1878 d. 27 November 1940) was a high-ranking French civil servant.

Chiappe was director of the Sûreté générale in the 1920s. He was subsequently given the post of Préfet de police in the 1930s, in which role he was very popular. His politics tended towards the right, and successive governments tried in vain to dislodge him. Finally , on 3 February 1934, Edouard Daladier, new president of the Conseil, recalled him from his post. The far-right leagues promptly organsized a large demonstration of support on the 6 February 1934, which rapidly degenerated into a riot against the republic and the government.

In autumn 1940 Chiappe was made high-commissioner of France in the Levant. The aircraft taking him to Lebanon was shot down by mistake by Italian planes taking part in the battle of Taranto. The pilot, Henri Guillaumet, the other members of the crew including Marcel Reine, and the two passengers (Chiappe and his leader of the cabinet) were killed.