Jean-Antoine Marbot was born into a family of military nobility in Altillac, in the ancient province of Quercy in southwestern France.

[2] He became opposed to the Club de Clichy, which he accused of conspiring against the interest of the Republic and he subsequently approved the coup of 18 Fructidor (4 September 1797), led by Generals Napoleon Bonaparte and Pierre Augereau, the latter having been his protégé during the War of the Pyrenées.

Re-elected president of the Council of Ancients on 19 June 1798, he delivered a commemorative speech during the celebrations of the 14th of July, and favoured decisive actions against the coalition powers at war with France.

On 18 April 1799, he supported a bill for the conscription of two hundred thousand men for the army, opposing the system adopted by the Minister of the Interior, François de Neufchâteau.

[5] After General Napoleon Bonaparte's return from the Egyptian campaign, he opposed the planned coup d'état, which was to overthrow the government of the Directory and replace it with a more autocratic Consulate.

Its authors, led by Director Emmanuel Sieyès, and eventually joined by General Bonaparte, knew that they needed the support of the armed forces in Paris to pursue their scheme.

[6] On 3 October 1776, he married Marie-Louise Certain du Puy (1756–1826),[1] with whom he had four sons: His wife was related to François Certain de Canrobert, marshal of France during the Second French Empire.