After entering the French army, Bourlamaque was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1756. He was sent to Canada in 1756 as third-in-command of the regular troops and served with distinction throughout the subsequent campaign in Canada. In the Battle of Carillon in 1758 he commanded the French left and in 1759 led the French forces at Ticonderoga. He was made a Brigadier-General in the same year, becoming a Major-General in 1762.