François Joly

François Joly (9 October 1872 – 8 May 1944) was a French politician and doctor. A conservative candidate, he was elected in 1936 to represent the 2nd constituency of Ille-et-Vilaine in the National Assembly. He was killed in an airstrike during the Second World War in 1944.

Life Born in 1872 in Plélan-le-Grand, Joly settled in the town of Bruz as a doctor prior to the First World War. Mobilized to serve during the conflict, he returned home in 1918 and was elected mayor the following year.

Affiliated with the Independent and Social Action Republicans, Joly campaigned against Prime Minister of France Léon Blum. He was a member of several government committees during his tenure. He stated he was in favor of electoral reform ensuring proportional representation. On 10 July 1940, Joly voted in favour of granting the cabinet presided by Marshal Philippe Pétain authority to draw up a new constitution, thereby effectively ending the French Third Republic and establishing Vichy France. Having served as mayor of Bruz for twenty-five years, including during the German occupation of France, Joly and most of his family were killed in the Allied bombardment of Bruz on 8 May 1944.