French army officer and adventurer.

Subaltern in French cavalry. Traveled to Boston area; captured by British and imprisoned as a spy. After his release, applied to Franklin for a recommendation to the French minister of war (1778). Settled in Philadelphia (1783), where he was frequently in trouble with the law. Created a scandal by assaulting François de Barbé-Marbois, secretary of the French legation, who had declined to give him professional and character references (May 1784).