Son of a mining engineer, he studied at the Athénée de Charleroi, and in 1871 at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels.

In 1912, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General and received the command of the 4th Army Division based on in the Fortified Position of Namur.

He took part in the Battle of the Yser, where the 4th Division occupied the front between Kaaskerke and Tervate along the Nieuwpoort-Diksmuide railway line until its relief on 26 October 1914.

It participated on the general allied offensive in 1918 and crossed the Scheldt river on 8 November 1918, reaching the city of Ghent.

He retired in 1920 in order to work with the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.