Ligondès was born to the family of a Navy officer. He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine on 6 July 1750.[2]
On 15 April 1761, Ligondès married Elisabeth de Reclesne. They had two sons, Hercule and Frédérick, both of whom also served in the Navy, and a daughter, Clotilde.[1]
Ligondès was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 October 1764,[2] and made a Knight in the Order of Saint Louis on 1 January 1773.[1] In 1775, Ligondès was captain of the 12-gun corvette Écureuil,[3] and the 14-gun Serin in 1777, on which he assisted an American ship while sailing from Brest to Saint-Domingue.[3] He returned to Brest later that same year.[4]
Ligondès was promoted to Captain on 4 April 1777.[2]