His great grandfather Jacques Chabrol (1649-1732) was a Protestant who converted to Catholicism in 1682 and was king's advocate in Riom.

His grandfather Guillaume Michel de Chabrol (1714-1792) was king's counsel in Riom, a jurist and author of works on the customs and history of Auvergne.

[1] During the French Revolution Christophe de Chabrol refused to take the oath on the civil constitution of the clergy, and left the priesthood.

[1] On 25 Thermidor Year XI (August 1803) Christophe de Chabrol became an auditor of the Council of State.

He returned to Lyon after the Battle of Waterloo on 17 July 1815 and resumed his duties as prefect after the Austrians commanded by Ferdinand, Count of Bubna, had occupied the city.

He accepted the alleged conspiracy of 22 October 1816 which gave the pretext for installing the guillotine permanently and recalled the worst days of the Terror.

[3] Chabrol left the ministry when Élie, duc Decazes, replaced Joseph Lainé as minister.

Although attacked for incompetence by the opposition journals, his term of office was marked by several achievements including formation of the Admiralty Board, restoration of maritime prefectures, creation of a naval academy, resumption of shipbuilding and the application of French law to the colonies.

However, when the Chamber of Deputies passed a motion that described the actions of the former Villèle ministry as "deplorable", Chabrol resigned, leaving office on 2 March 1828.

[3] Chabrol returned to office on 7 August 1829 as Minister of Finance in the Ministry of Jules de Polignac at the urgent request of King Charles X, although he did not conceal his misgivings about the composition of the cabinet.

He resigned on 18 May 1830, concerned that the next elections would bring in a majority hostile to the repressive measures of the king and Jules de Polignac.