He married in Brussels on 30 April 1862, to Joséphine (Jose) Straatman, daughter of ship-owner Lambert Straatman and Marie Sophie Fautier. He was the son of a hero of the Battle of Waterloo and Belgian revolutionary, Guillaume Rouen and Henriette Elius.
He was a historian and Belgian soldier. He also performed a mission at the time of the Italian War of Independence.
He was a Colonel of the Grenadiers (1891), general lieutenant with the section of activity (1901), member of the committee of staff, and member of the council of improvement of the establishments of reserve training.
