Cheyron was born to a noble family, and brother to Pierre-Joseph du Cheyron de Saint-Vincent. He started his military career as a sub-lieutenant in the Régiment de Normandie en 1745, and rose to Lieutenant. In 1748, he changed his career and joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine. He was promoted to Ensign in 1754. He served under Admiral de Conflans, notably on Intrépide off Saint-Domingue in 1760, and later on Guerrier and Tonnant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1762.[1]
From 1766 to 1775, Cheyron worked on naval tactics and signals, and he was made a Knight in the Order of Saint Louis in 1771. On 25 March 1773, he presented a memorandum to the Court, titled Mémoire sur la tactique navale — Signaux de nuit et pour le temps de brume pour l'escadre du Roi. The report was favourably received by the Commission. [1] He is considered one of the principal creators of naval communications before the era of radio. [3]
In 1775, he was brigade chief of the Gardes-Marine in Rochefort, and became major of the training squadron (escadre d'évolution) in 1776.[1]
In 1777, he was promoted to Captain. In July 1778, Cheyron was appointed to Orvilliers' squadron, and he applied his techniques during the Battle of Ushant.[1]
From 1779 to 1780, he served as Major in the French-Spanish fleet. Given command of the 80-gun Triomphant, he was Vaudreuil's flag captain at the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782. He was mortally wounded and died on April 14.[1]
