Maurville joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine on 25 April 1757.[4] he served on Florissant from 1757 to 1760, on Intrépide in 1761, on Northumberland in 1762 and on Garonne from 1763 to 1764.[5] The year after, he transferred on Utile, and in June 1765 he took part in the Larache expedition, where he was wounded.[4] He was the sole surviving officer, and spent two years a prisoner in Morocco[1] before returning to France in 1767.[5] He had been promoted to Ensigh on 27 November 1765, while in captivity.[5] In 1775, he published a Relation de l'Affaire de Larache telling his experience.[4]
From November 1767 to 1768, he served on Bricole.[5] He was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 August 1768[4] From April to September 1772, he was appointed to the frigate Terpsichore. From December 1772 to June 1773, he served on Bricole.[5]
In 1776, he was given his first command, the corvette Sylphide. In 1777, he transferred to the corvette Subtile, until 1778.[5] He rose to Captain on 13 March 1779.[4]
He commanded Artésien in the French squadron under Suffren, taking part in the Battle of Sadras on 17 February 1782, [7] the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782.[8] On 5 June 1782, [4] he failed to press his chase of the British 18-gun Raikes, against orders from Suffren. [9][10]
On 7 July 1782, following the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren dismissed him from Artésien, replacing him with Armand de Saint-Félix,[12] and sent him back to France. Maurville was imprisoned at Île de Ré,[13] and freed but expelled from the Navy on 25 July 1783.[9]