When the War of the First Coalition broke out in Europe, Bouligny was assigned to the Louisiana Regiment's artillery corps, he later was put in command of a squadron of gunboats sent up the Mississippi to the District of Illinois, and oversaw the initial construction of Fort San Fernando De Las Barrancas.

[2] In 1800, he purchased a regidor perpétuo seat in the cabildo, the New Orleans municipal governmental council, from Gilberto Andry for 800 silver pesos.

Having resigned his Spanish military commission, Bouligny turned his attention to his large sugarcane plantation upriver from New Orleans where he also produced tafia rum.

[2] During the War of 1812, Bouligny was appointed to the Committee for the Defense of New Orleans, successfully rallying volunteers to protect the city during the British invasion of 1814–1815.

[2][7] Rising Jacksonian sentiment doomed Bouligny's chances for reelection in 1829,[8] and the Louisiana legislature elected Edward Livingston senator on the fifth round of balloting.

[2] In early 1803, before Louisiana was returned to France, Bouligny married Anna Arthémise Le Blanc (1785 – 1848), the daughter of a prominent allied family.