French officer and chemist.

Began his military career at the age of fourteen. Colonel commandant de dragons, lieutenant in the Swiss guards. Passed into the service of the duc de Wurtenburg, who named him adjutant general and gave him the title of chambellan (1759).

Interested in the occult sciences. Corresponding member of the Academies of Sciences of Harlem, Madrid, and Paris.

Born in Beaujeu. Father-in-law of Jean- Baptiste Le Roy. Died from poisoning while experimenting in his laboratory.