He was appointed chef d'escadre (the lowest level of general officer in the French Navy) on 25 September 1755.
After attempting to sail to the relief of Louisbourg in 1758, he was trapped in the neutral Spanish harbour of Cartagena.
Following the Battle of Cartagena, La Clue returned to Toulon, abandoning his attempt to relieve Louisbourg.
He was caught by a patrolling British fleet under Edward Boscawen and defeated at the Battle of Lagos off Portugal.
Following the conclusion of the war, La Clue-Sabran retired from the Navy in 1764 with the rank of lieutenant-général des armées navales.