Louis Gautier was born on 22 January 1810 in Aigre, Charente.

[1] He became an eau de vie merchant in Aigre, and a Charente district councilor.

He was allied with the André family of Charente and shared their Bonapartist sympathies, which helped him enter politics.

[2] Gautier was elected Deputy of Charent on 5 March 1876 and took his seat with the Appel au peuple parliamentary group.

His son, René François Gautier, was elected in his place on 29 February 1880.