Jean-Bapiste was the son of Laurent Dureau de la Malle and Elisabeth Sauvage.

He went to study in Paris and, freed from earning a living by his large fortune, devoted himself entirely to letters and made it his mission to meet the most distinguished French writers of the day.

He married Elisabeth-Renée Maignon, who had also been born in Saint-Domingue, and their son was Adolphe Dureau de la Malle.

Dureau de la Malle's translation of Sallust appeared in 1808.

His translation of Livy was incomplete on his death and was completed by his son and by François Noël and published posthumously in 15 volumes from 1810 to 1815.