[1] An aristocrat of the Ancien Régime, Sorbier joined the Royal Artillery Corps in 1782 and was a part of the La Fère regiment, where he met Napoleon Bonaparte.

A captain in 1792, Sorbier is involved in the French Revolutionary Wars, taking part to the fighting in Northern France and on the Rhine.

In 1805, he was a part of the first Grande Armée and was present at the battle of Austerlitz, before taking the command of the artillery of the French 'Army of Italy'.

In 1809, he played an active role in the War of the Fifth Coalition, replacing general Jean Ambroise Baston de Lariboisière as commander of the Imperial Guard Artillery, then, in 1812, was a part of the second Grande Armée during the Russian campaign, keeping his command of the Guard artillery.

During the Hundred Days, he joined Napoleon and after the downfall of the Emperor, Sorbier was exiled and then placed on the retirement list by King Louis XVIII.