Joining the navy at the age of 10, Missiessy was promoted to enseigne de vaisseau in 1777. During the American War of Independence, he served Admiral d'Estaing's fleet. Promoted to lieutenant de vaisseau in 1781, he commanded the cutter Le Pygmée and was captured by the British in 1782. He took part in the expedition by Napoleon Bonaparte to keep Haiti. Wrote Aperçu sur le Matériel de la Marine ("Short description of the equipment of the Navy") in 1829 et about its decision at Haïti.