His parents were Joseph Charles Pierre Bégin (1800–1859), Commissaire adjoint in the navy, and Elisabeth Giraud.

[1] He attended the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, and on 1 October 1856 was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Naval Infantry.

He participated in a small expeditionary force that put down a rebellion in the province of Tây Ninh, and was cited in September 1866.

The Queen Mother, for whom he professes deep respect and filial piety, would not have not forgiven him for accepting without struggle the humiliation we imposed ... even admitting the implicit guilt of the King, one cannot think now of deposing him.

Neyret, the Resident of Hải Dương, showed that a well-armed militia that was active in gathering intelligence could be effective in combating bandits.

[8] Neyret in turn accused the 4th Regiment de Tirailleurs Tonkinois, which had been recruited in Hai Duong, of having sold arms to the rebels.

The Governor General of French Indochina, Jean Antoine Ernest Constans, responded that Neyret had only been doing his duty and perhaps the regiment should be transferred instead.

Richaud was more sympathetic to the army, and defined its role as being to repel attacks and suppress rebellion, while that of the militias was to maintain the peace through police action.

[9] Bégin agreed with a proposal by Richaud, who held office from April 1888 to May 1889, for collaboration between the army and civilians.

[11] In July 1888 Begin gave high praise to a detailed plan for pacifying the northern cantons submitted by Auguste Pavie.

It details the region from Luang Prabang to the Black River, which was totally unknown until now ... as well as the roads that traverse it and can be used for our trade in a near future... You have intended, through your own efforts, to bring in French influence in this region that is much coveted by a neighboring power and is occupied by the Chinese pirate bands that we have thrown out of Tonkin.

"[12] Bégin returned to France in July 1889 as Deputy Inspector General of his army, and on 29 December 1889 was appointed Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.