Within 18 months, cruised in the West Indies, spent 40 fights and captured 211 prizes, earning a reputation as the most formidable privateer the Caribbean (British Parliament praised his head in the 2 million pounds).

Following the announcement of Louis XVI war Britain returned to the king's service, took part in the Invasion of Dominica, where at the head of 400 buccaneers famous capture of Fort Cachacrou, for which a lieutenant and September 20, 1778 appointed commander of a privateer Truite.

As a lieutenant 80-gun ship of the line «Le Languedoc», the flagship of Admiral d'Estaing distinguished himself at the capture of July 2, 1779 the island of Grenada, where the head 80 grenadiers attacked the British position and took the enemy's flag, for which he was awarded the rank of captain, participated in the Siege of Savannah.

At the beginning of the Revolution joined the National Guard of Paris under the command of the Marquis Lafayette, November 10, 1792 reinstated in the Navy with the rank of captain (old Charges withdrawn, and the cost reimbursed).

He commanded a 74-gun battleship Duquesne and a small naval squadron, directed to the Levant and Tunisia for a cargo of wheat to starving France, then managed to overcome the British blockade and bring food to Toulon, where he headed the ship of the line Heureux.