Robert Galley

Robert Galley (January 11, 1921 – June 8, 2012) was a French politician and member of the Free French Forces during World War II, for which he received the Ordre de la Libération.[1]

Robert Galley
Minister of National Defence
In office
22 December 1980  13 May 1981
PresidentValéry Giscard d'Estaing
Prime MinisterRaymond Barre
Preceded byJoël Le Theule
Succeeded byCharles Hernu
Minister of Cooperation
In office
27 August 1976  22 December 1980
PresidentValéry Giscard d'Estaing
Prime MinisterRaymond Barre
Preceded byOlivier Guichard
Succeeded byJean-Pierre Fourcade
Minister of Public Works
In office
28 May 1974  25 August 1976
PresidentValéry Giscard d'Estaing
Prime MinisterJacques Chirac
Preceded byOlivier Guichard
Succeeded byJean-Pierre Fourcade
Minister of Defence
In office
5 April 1973  27 May 1974
PresidentGeorges Pompidou
Prime MinisterPierre Messmer
Preceded byMichel Debré
Succeeded byJacques Soufflet
Minister of Transport
In office
6 July 1972  28 March 1973
PresidentGeorges Pompidou
Prime MinisterPierre Messmer
Preceded byJean Chamant
Succeeded byYves Guéna
Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
In office
22 June 1969  5 July 1972
PresidentGeorges Pompidou
Prime MinisterJacques Chaban-Delmas
Preceded byAndré Bettencourt
Succeeded byHubert Germain
Minister of Scientific Research and Atomic and Space Question
In office
12 July 1968  20 June 1969
PresidentCharles de Gaulle
Prime MinisterMaurice Couve de Murville
Preceded byChristian de La Malène
Succeeded byMichel d'Ornano
Minister of Housing
In office
31 May 1968  10 July 1968
PresidentCharles de Gaulle
Prime MinisterGeorges Pompidou
Preceded byFrançois-Xavier Ortoli
Succeeded byAlbin Chalandon
Personal details
Born(1921-01-11)11 January 1921
Paris, France
Died8 June 2012(2012-06-08) (aged 91)
Troyes, France
NationalityFrench
Political partyUDR
RPR
Spouse(s)Jeanne Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Alma materÉcole Centrale Paris

The son of a doctor, Galley was born in Paris on January 11, 1921.[2] During the Fall of France in 1940, Galley was able to escape to the United Kingdom disguised as a Polish soldier.[2] He joined the Free French Forces and was sent to North Africa, including the Battle of El Alamein. Galley was next stationed within General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque's 2nd Armored Division, through which he participated in the Liberation of Paris and the Western Allied invasion of Germany.[2] Galley later married General Leclerc de Hauteclocque's daughter, Jeanne Leclerc de Hauteclocque, following the end of World War II.[2]

After the war, Galley passed the entrance examinations to the French graduate engineering schools and was admitted to the Ecole Centrale Paris, from which he graduated in 1949.

He worked and held various positions in areas of petroleum, nuclear energy, and informatics. From 1955 to 1966 he headed the construction of various nuclear plants and research facilities for the CEA. He was the Deputy Information Officer to the French Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of INRIA in 1967.

Galley began his political career in 1968.[2] He served as a government minister for fourteen consecutive years within the administrations of three French Presidents - Charles de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.[2] Galley held the portfolios of Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Housing, Minister of Research and Space, Minister of Telecommunications, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Defence from 1973 to 1974, and Minister of Cooperation from 1976 to 1980.[2]

Galley also served as Mayor of Troyes from 1972 to 1995.[2]

Robert Galley died in Troyes, France, on June 8, 2012, at the age of 91.[2][3]

References

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