Baptised Michel-Joseph-Charles Coursol, he was born at Fort Malden, Upper Canada, located at what is now Amherstburg, Ontario.

His early education was at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal, and afterwards he was apprenticed to his step-father Côme-Séraphin Cherrier for the legal profession until his formal installation as a lawyer on 24 February 1841.

Coursol left politics for numerous years, yet maintained a high profile in the Montreal community with other activities such as business and culture.

His attention turned to national politics, winning the Montreal East riding for the Conservatives in the 1878 federal election.

Coursol's honours included Spain's Order of Charles III in 1872, then his appointment as Queen's Counsel in February 1873.