De la Jonquière was born near Albi. He joined the navy when he was twelve, and fought under the Duguay-Trouin and in the Battle of Toulon. In 1746, he sailed on the famous and ill-fated Duc d'Anville Expedition. In 1747, after a brave defence, he was defeated in the Battle of Cape Finisterre by George Anson. As Governor General, he was considered to be a good administrator if not the bravest of men in the political and economic upheavals of the time. The opposite was true of his naval career where his twenty-nine campaigns and nine combats showed a man of great courage.