In 1763, his parents were the first French Canadian couple to be presented to the English Court, drawing the compliment from King George III that if all Canadian ladies resembled his mother, Mme de Léry, then his father had made une belle conquete.

In 1763, after the British Conquest of New France, accompanied by his parents he left Quebec and by way of England came to Paris.

Following family tradition, in early 1773 he began his training as a military engineer at the Grande École Militaire at Mézières.

From 1780 to 1790, his early military career as an engineer was passed at La Fère and Brest before he was posted overseas to Martinique, Guadeloupe and the Islands of Tobago.

He was made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour as Commandant du Génie in Italy and Spain in 1813.

[7] In 1824, he died at the Château des Bergeries, Chartrettes, while visiting his friend and relation, Le Comte de Marchais.