Born in Barbania, a "comune" near Turin in the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, Drovetti later obtained the French nationality and joined the "Grande Armée". As an official, during the French campaign in Egypt (1798–99) he distinguished himself by saving the life of Joachim Murat, and later he became the French Consul-General of Egypt during both the Empire (until 1814) and the Bourbon Restoration, between 1820 and 1829. He also earned Wāli Muhammad Ali's trust and had a role in some of the latter's administrative reforms. In 1820 he was awarded the title of "Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur".