He was also the commanding officer of the Regiment de Meuron, a unit of Swiss mercenaries that had served in Ceylon under the Dutch, but whose transfer of allegiance to Great Britain facilitated the fall of Columbo to the British on 15 October 1796.

[1] In 1781, he entered Dutch service as the recruiting officer for the Regiment de Meuron, a mercenary regiment founded by his brother, Charles-Daniel de Meuron.

[1] He received the rank of brigadier general in 1795, after the regiment entered British service.

[1] He was appointed Military Governor of British Ceylon on 12 July 1797 and occupied this post until 12 October 1798.

His successor was Robert Andrews, who served as Resident and Superintendent of British Ceylon.