Raymond de Lacrosse joined the Navy in 1779 as a Garde marine. He rose to enseign in 1782, to lieutenant in 1786, and to capitaine de vaisseau in 1792. In 1795, he was sent to Martinique and Guadeloupe to crush revolts by enslaved Africans. On his return to France, Lacrosse was arrested. Despite the loss of his ship, Lacrosse was made contre-amiral. In 1799, he was sent as ambassador to Spain, and notably negotiated the forcible return of émigrés to France, he was offered the Ministry of Marine, which he declined. Lacrosse retired in 1815 and died in his hometown of Meilhan on 10 September 1829.