Monteclerc joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in 1743.

Monteclerc was promoted to Lieutenant in 1757. He served on Éveillé, in Conflans' squadron, during the Seven Years' War.^[1]

Monteclerc was promoted to Captain in 1772.^[1] In 1777, he commanded the 64-gun Bizarre. ^[1][2] Navy Minister Sartine had chosen her to be one of the six ships held ready for immediate departure at all times.^{[3][Note 1]}

In 1779, he commanded a division comprising the 64-gun Solitaire and the frigates Inconstante and Surveillante, and led an expedition to hunt down privateers. The division returned to Brest on 4 May 1779 with 400 prisoners.^[1] Later that year, Solitaire was attached to a squadron under Orvilliers.^[1][4]

In late 1799, Monteclerc was appointed vice-Director of naval constructions in Brest, and he was promoted to Director on 1 January 1780.^[1] That same year, he commanded the 74-gun Hector, departing on 1 September and returning on 31 December.^[1]

Monteclerc was promoted to Brigadier in 1781.^[1] Later that year, he was given command of the 74-gun Diadème in the squadron under De Grasse.^[5] He was wounded in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781, ^[1][6] and took part in the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782.^[7][8]

Monteclerc was acquitted from all accusations in the inquiry that followed the battle.^[9] He then served under Vaudreuil before retiring in 1783.^[1]

• Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778–1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
• Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion.
• Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.
• Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.