François Marie was born to Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf and his wife Catherine Henriette de Bourbon, Légitimée de France, legitimised daughter of Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées.

His paternal first cousins included the Chevalier de Lorraine (lover of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans), Count of Armagnac; his maternal cousins included Louis XIV of France and the above-mentioned Duke of Orléans.

Their eldest son, François, had been born before the marriage but he was recognised as legitimate in 1694.

His eldest daughter Marie Angélique married the Portuguese Duke of Cadaval and died in childbirth.

François Louis died in January 1694, aged 69 his wife outliving him by a year.