He succeeded Pierre-François Percy (1754–1825) as chief surgeon of the Grande Armée, and had himself as his successor Dominique-Jean Larrey (1766–1842).
Born in Tours, Nicolas Heurteloup began his medical studies in that city.
Heurteloup made his career under the Ancien Regime, the Revolution, the Consulate and the Empire.
In 1804 he was inspector general of the health service and chief surgeon of the Grande Armée in 1808, replacing Percy.
His work earned him the esteem of the Emperor Napoleon, who quoted him in the bulletin that followed the Battle of Wagram, and made him an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1809 and a Baron in 1810.