Darlan graduated from the French naval school in 1902 and then advanced through the various ranks, becoming a rear admiral in 1929, vice admiral, admiral, and in June 1939, admiral of the fleet. He served as naval chief of staff from 1936 and was commander in chief of the navy from August 1939.

Darlan entered Pétain's government after France's defeat by Germany in June 1940, serving as vice premier and foreign minister from February 1941 to April 1942. He then gave up his ministerial posts to become commander in chief of all (Vichy) French military forces in 1942. In November of that year Darlan happened to be in Algiers when the Allied invasion of French-ruled Morocco and Algeria began on Nov. 8, 1942. Darlan persuaded the local Vichy French forces to let the landings continue unopposed, and he then concluded an armistice with the Allies under which his forces came under Free French command. In December 1942 he was killed by an anti-Vichy assassin.