He was the eldest son of Lieutenant General Pierre Marie de Chapelle, 4th Marquis of Jumilhac (1735–1798), and Françoise Catherine Pourcheresse d'Estrabonne (1740–1815).

He embarked in Brest in 1782, with the Régiment de Rouergue, for Cadiz, to join the Naval Army of the Count of Estaing during the Anglo-French War.

During the defeat of this expeditionary force and the Armée des Émigrés, he only escaped death by throwing himself into the water to swim to the English ships.

[4] He returned to France after Coup of 18 Brumaire in November 1799, and spent the next eight years at his rural estate, where he set up an experimental farm.

In 1811, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the III Cavalry Corps of the Grande Armée, and in this capacity fought in the Russian campaign.

He was promoted to brigadier general on 18 August 1813, and was tasked with organizing a Cavalry Brigade in Leipzig with elements coming from France.

[5] She was the younger half-sister of Armand Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, 5th Duke of Richelieu, last of his name and President of the Council under King Louis XVIII.

[1] Through his younger son, he was grandfather of Armand Chapelle de Jumilhac, 7th Duke of Richelieu, who married heiress Alice Heine in 1875.