Chevalier de Clerville, held many military positions during his life in France in 1610–1677.
Clerville played an important role in François de Vendôme, Duc de Beaufort's 1664 expedition against Algiers and attempt to establish a French stronghold at Djidjelli (or Gigeri, present-day Jijel).
[2] During his association with the canal, Clerville worked for Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of finance under King Louis XIV of France.
He served as Colbert's commissaire general des fortifications building ports, dry docks and fortresses.
Clerville originated the ideas for the building a single large dam of the Laudot valley near Saint-Ferréol (a hamlet of Revel).