 Complete the following phrase:  Born in Mont-Louis to the mercenary general Hugues Meunier, he became a cadet in the Lyonnais Regiment on 30 June 1768, aged nine, with the rank of sub-lieutet. He was promoted to lieutet in 1774 and captain in 1782, both in the same regiment. He fought in the naval campaigns of 1779 to 1783 under the command of Charles-Gustave de Falkenhayn, including service at the sieges of Mahon and 