Career
Iacob Lahovary was the brother of Alexandru Lahovary and Ioan Lahovary both of whom served as foreign ministers. He attended the Bucharest School of Officers in 1859 - 1864, Polytechnical School in Paris in 1864 -1870. He also graduated from Sorbonne University with a degree in Mathematics in 1870.
As soon as Lahovary entered military service, he quickly rose in the ranks of the Romanian army: he became Second Lieutenant in 1864, Lieutenant in 1870, Captain) in 1871, Major in 1874, Lieutenant Colonel in 1877, Colonel in 1883, Brigadier in 1891 and General in 1900.