Promoted to ensign in 1826, he served under Dumont d'Urville and took part in the famous circumnavigation of the corvette Astrolabe until 1829; on her quest to find traces of the ill fated expedition of La Pérousse which vanished in 1788.

In 1837, he was attached to the Artémise again under Laplace for a third exploration cruise around the world, during this period he lost part of his left arm in an unfortunate accident while visiting a foundry in Pondicherry.

These experiences abroad provided him with the material of his Essai sur la construction navale des peuples extraeuropéens.

He was promoted to captain and embarked on several short sea expeditions; however, he was mostly employed curating naval maps and plans.

He gifted the museum his extensive collections of drawings, engravings, and notes made throughout his naval life.