Deperthes was born in Houdilcourt, a commune in the Ardennes in July 1833.

Around the time he was 18, Deperthes travelled to Reims to study architecture, and excelled under his teacher, known only as Mssr.

He started his first project in 1855, at the age of 22 - working on the design of Lille Cathedral (French: Notre Dame de la Treille) in Lille.

He then aided in the reconstruction of Saint-Ambrose church in Paris in the same year.

He was buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris on 27 July 1898.