Joseph-Jules Brévié was a French colonial administrator who became governor-general of French West Africa from 1930 to 1936, and then governor-general of French Indochina from 1937 to 1939. He promoted liberal and humanistic policies, and thought it important to have deep understanding of the local people and respect for their civilization. He saw the role of the administration as being the economic and human development of the people. During World War II (1939–1945) he was Minister of Overseas France and the Colonies from April 1942 to March 1943. As a result of his participation in the Vichy government he was deprived of his rank and pension after the war.

The Minister of the Overseas is the official in charge of the Ministry of the Overseas in the Government of the French Republic, responsible for overseeing Overseas France. The office was titled Minister of the Colonies until 1946.