He studied law and became an advocate at Nérac, beginning his public career there as municipal councillor (1868), afterwards mayor (1871), and as councillor-general of the département of Lot-et-Garonne (1871).
Hukuk eğitimi aldı ve Nérac'da savunucu oldu; burada kamu kariyerine belediye meclisi üyesi (1868), daha sonra belediye başkanı (1871) ve Lot-et-Garonne département (1871) genel sekreteri olarak başladı.