Born in Dijon into a middle-class family, his father was Jean Etienne, who wore "the oratorian collet for seven years"[1] before becoming advocate to the parliament of Dijon in 1754. Nicolas' mother was Antoinette Geneviève Charpy.[2] In 1785 he married Denise Petit (1757–1832), daughter of a notary and royal provost at Aignay-le-Duc, who he succeeded. The marriage made him brother-in-law to Claude-Auguste Petit de Beauverger.
He was elected a deputy of the third estate for the bailliage of Montagne à Châtillon in the estates general on 25 March 1789.
