He was born into a family of Acadian descent in Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand, Lower Canada in 1813 and studied there and at Trois-Rivières.

He opened a store at Plessisville, where he also operated mills, farmed and later established a foundery.

He was a member of the Patriote organization Fils de la liberté, but did not take part in the Lower Canada Rebellion.

In 1862, he was elected to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada; after Confederation, he was named to the Senate.

His son Napoléon-Charles also served as mayor of the town and was a member of the Legislative Council of Quebec.