Career
Born into French nobility (marquis d'Escorches de Sainte Croix) he enlisted in the French Army, reaching the rank of a colonel in 1780. He renounced his title, adopted the name Descoches and became a vivid supporter of the French revolution. He was French representative in Poland (1791–1792) and Ottoman Empire (1793–1795).
He was prefect of Drôme from 1800 to 1815.