dᵻsˈɛndᵻd fɹʌm ɐn ɪlˈʌstɹiəs nˈoːɹməndi fˈæmɪli, æz ɐ nˈaɪt ʌv mˈɔltə ænd ðɪ ˈɔːɹdɚɹ ʌv sˈeɪnt lˈuːi hiː wʌz stˈaɪld ʃˌɛvɐlˈɪɹ bᵻfˌoːɹ kˈɪŋ lˈuːi ɹˌoʊmən sˈɪkstiːn kɹiːˈeɪɾᵻd hˌɪm ɐ mɑːɹrkˈiː ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈaɪv.
Descended from an illustrious Normandy family, as a Knight of Malta and the Order of Saint Louis he was styled Chevalier before King Louis XVI created him a Marquis in 1785.