He was born in Paris; entered the army in 1846; served in the Italian campaign of 1859, with the French troops in Mexico (1862), and, after cooperation with Adolphe Niel in the army reforms, in the Franco-Prussian War. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1874; became head of the Military Academy three years after; in 1885 was Minister of War in Ferry's Cabinet; and in 1888 was appointed inspector general.