In late 1808, Émeric, ranking Lieutenant, served as first officer on the frigate Junon.
The next day, she was detected by the brigs HMS Asp and Supérieure, who shadowed Junon and harassed her.
The cannonade attracted the attention of the frigates HMS Latona and Horatio, who gave chase and started the action of 10 February 1809.
[5] In early 1814, he led a two-frigate squadron comprising Iphigénie and Alcmène, under Commander Ducrest de Villeneuve,[6] for a cruise between the Azores and Cap-Vert, off Guinea.
On 16 January 1814, the frigates encountered a British squadron, comprising the 74-gun third-rate ship of the line Venerable, her prize, the ex-French letter of marque brig Jason, and Cyane; they attempted to flee, but Alcmène was soon overrun and captured.