Lafresnaye was born into an aristocratic family at Chateau de La Fresnaye in Falaise, Normandy.

It was only after acquiring a collection of European birds that he turned his attention to ornithology.

Lafresnaye described a number of new bird species, some with Alcide d'Orbigny.

After his death the collection was purchased by the American collector Henry Bryant and donated to the Boston Natural History Society.

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