Dufour was born at Saint-Seine in France in 1758, and joined the military at Nivernais.
He fought at Verdun in 1792, and joined a number of officers refusing to sign the capitulation.
He also fought at Battle of Neerwinden, at Namurs, and participated in the suppression of the anti-revolutionary uprising in the Vendée.
He retired to Bordeaux, but returned to the military during the Hundred Days in 1815.
He was detained briefly following Napoleon's final defeat.