Marie-Jean-Lucien Lacaze

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Marie-Jean-Lucien Lacaze (Pierrefonds (Oise) 22 June 1860 — 23 March 1955) was a French admiral, minister of Marine, préfet maritime and académicien.

Lacaze was born to a physician of Réunion, where he spent his youth. He studied in France by the Jesuits, and joined the École Navale in 1879.

Lacaze served as capitaine de vaisseau in Senegal, India and Viet-Nam. He was naval attaché in Rome and chief of staff to Admiral Germinet. He then took command of the Masséna, before serving as chief of cabinet to minister of the Navy Théophile Delcassé.

During the First World War, Lacaze lead a division of the Mediterranean fleet, and organised part of the Dardanelles Campaign. Lacaze was made Minister of the Navy in October 1915, and he retained the office until 1917. He then went on to serve as préfet maritime of Toulon.

After retiring in 1922, Lacaze was elected at the Académie française on the 12 November 1936, obtaining Jules Cambon's seat (seat n°40).

Preceded by Victor Augagneur

Minister of Marine 1915–1917

Succeeded by Charles Chaumet