A career soldier, he served in the French military from 1842 to 1873.
In 1866 he was named captain and a chevalier in the Legion of Honor.
Following retirement from the army, he moved to the community of Autun, where he focused his energies on mycology.
[1] He was a founding member of the Société mycologique de France,[1] and also a member of the Société d'histoire naturelle du Creusot and the Société d'histoire naturelle et des amis du muséum d'Autun.
[2] The species Rosa lucandiana was named in his honor by François-Xavier Gillot and Pierre Alfred Déséglise.