Saint-Félix joined the Navy in 1755. he served on the 16-gun Calypso, where he took part in the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November 1759.

He took command of the 64-gun Brillant in the squadron of Read-Admiral Suffren, and took part in the battles of Sadras, Providien and Negapatam.

On 7 July 1782, following the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren appointed Saint-Félix to Artésien in replacement of Bidé de Maurville.

Saint-Félix requested to be relieved and left the squadron after the Battle of Trincomalee], embarking on Pulvérisateur on 3 September 1782, bound for Isle de France.

[1] After the war, he was amongst the captains that Suffren recommended for promotion[4] [Note 1] Returned to France, Saint-Félix commanded the training squadron (escadre d'évolution) in 1785.