His father, a member of the provisional government which emerged during the Polish Revolution in Warsaw in 1830, sent him to Paris, despite his youth, as first secretary of the official legation.

When the revolution was quelled, the Wolowski family established themselves in Paris, and in 1836 Louis became a naturalised French citizen.

Elected in 1871 representative to the National Assembly, he sat on the left Centre and played a very important part in the financial discussions; in December 1875, he became senator for life.

He played an important part in the foundation of the Crédit Foncier, whose principal object was the withdrawal of rural property from the expenses of loans and hypothecary subrogation.

"Wolowski", says Jules Rambaud, who studied his work at length, "was animated by sincere piety, concerning which we should not be misled by some epigrams on the ancient economic privileges enjoyed by the clergy."