He was born François-Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Marie d'Orléans at the Château de Neuilly, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Educated for the navy, he was commissioned lieutenant in 1836. His first conspicuous service was at the Bombardment of San Juan de Ulúa, in November 1838, commanding the corvette , when he headed a landing party and took the Mexican general Mariano Arista prisoner at Veracruz.