Joseph Abeille came to the attention of the Paris-based scientific establishment in 1699 when he applied successfully to the Académie royale des sciences to patent his radical design for flat vaulted roofing. He began his career as a French king's engineer. The position was a military one, in which he was employed from 1703 During this period France was engaged in an ambitious war which involved attempting to invade the Netherlands, much of which lay at or below sea-level. When the situation became desperate the Dutch military commander could - and on at least one occasion did - cut the dykes protecting a contested section of drained land, thereby displacing or drowning any French military personnel on it. An understanding of hydraulic engineering acquired a military importance un matched before or since in French history. It was between 1703 and 1706 that Abeille acquired his reputation as an . In 1706 appreciation dawned on the French king that even the military might of France could not prevail on all fronts at once: attempts to invade the Netherlands were abandoned. Around one hundred military engineers were "retired" from the army in 1706. One of them was Joseph Abeille. Meanwhile in 1704 Abeille had also distinguished himself and enhanced his reputation at the naval Battle of Malaga, serving in the fleet under the command of the Count of Toulouse.