Georges Danjou

François Jules Georges Danjou (17 June 1862 – 12 May 1926) was a French physician, physiotherapist, military doctor, writer, and vegetarianism activist. He received the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 for his military medical service. He served as president of the French Vegetarian Society and proposed the creation of an International Vegetarian Federation, which led to the founding of the International Vegetarian Union.

Biography Early life and education François Jules Georges Danjou was born in Limoux, Aude, on 17 June 1862. His parents were Jean Danjou and Célina Merliac. He grew up in a small village described by Philippe Tissié as having a history of gold and iron working.

Danjou was educated at the College of Foix.

Military medical career After completing his medical studies, Danjou joined the French military as a doctor. Early in his career, he served at the Val-de-Grâce military hospital. During this period, he became a member of the Decoeur Mission. According to Tissié, Danjou contracted a severe purulent ophthalmia while treating Bambara people, and his sight remained weakened after 18 months of treatment.

For his service, Danjou was awarded the Legion of Honour and transferred to the reserve of the active army. He also founded a vegetarian group in Nice and a Catalonian vegetarian society.

World War I service At the outbreak of World War I, Danjou volunteered for mobilisation. He initially served in the trenches of the Argonne and was later deployed to the Armée d'Orient. He took part in the retreat from Serbia, including during temperatures described by Tissié as falling to .

Danjou died on 12 May 1926 in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, aged 63. A bronze plaque with a sculpture by Grégoire Calvet was placed on his tomb.

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