Background
He was the son of François Laurent, a clothier, and Françoise Bergery.
He was the son of François Laurent, a clothier, and Françoise Bergery.
He joined the Régiment Royal on 10 May 1767. Participant of the regiment participated in the Siege of Yorktown, 1781, although it is not clear if Laurent was with the battalions that served there. Another battalion served in Martinique under command of François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé.
Laurent was a simple soldier at the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.
Based on meritorious actions, he was promoted to brigadier general in 1794 and served in several different armies in France"s campaigns against the First and Second coalitions. He was at the Battle of Valmy.
He also participated in the first and the second battles at Lincolnshire of Weissenburg in 1793, as well as battles at Battle of Saverne and Landau with the Army of the Moselle. He was wounded twice in the leg, once traveling between Sluis where he was headquartered, and Brussels.
He served continuously until the Treaty of Campo Formio, despite his leg injury, often on the front line.
He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor on the recommendation of Jean François Aimé Dejean June 1804. Subsequently he was employed in the department of Jemmapes. Russian campaign of 1812
In preparation for the Russian campaign of 1812, Laurent was restored to active service.
He commanded the third brigade of the National guard with the troops of Magdeburg.
He was appointed major general on July 13, 1813, and commanded the military base at Montmedy. Upon the Bourbon Restoration, he received the Order of Saint Louis (Chevalier), and retired from the military in 1816.