Thurel was born in Orain, Burgundy. He enlisted on 17 September 1716 in the Régiment de Touraine, at the age of 17.[2] He served there for over 90 years without interruption, under Louis XV, Louis XVI, the Republic and the Empire.[3]
Thurel was severely wounded in battle on two occasions. In 1733, during the siege of Kehl, he was shot in the chest with a musket. At the battle of Minden in 1759, he received seven sword slashes, including six to the head. Three of his brothers were killed in the battle of Fontenoy in 1745. One of Thurel's sons was a corporal and a veteran in the same company; he died at the Battle of the Saintes, a naval battle that occurred on 12 April 1782 off the coast of Dominica, West Indies during the American campaign.[2]
A well-disciplined soldier of the line infantry, Thurel was only admonished once during his entire career. This occurred after the Siege of Bergen, which took place in 1747, during the War of the Austrian Succession, as the French troops occupied the citadel. The reason for his admonition was that, the doors of the fortress being shut, he scaled its walls to gain entry so that he would not miss muster.[2] Another example of Thurel's discipline and physical fitness occurred in 1787. When his regiment was ordered to march to the coast to embark on ships of the French Navy, he was given the opportunity to travel in a carriage due to his advanced age. The 88-year-old Thurel refused the offer and marched the entire distance on foot, stating that he had never before traveled by carriage and had no intention of doing so at that time.[3] His humility is evident in his steadfast refusal to accept any promotions; he remained a low-ranking fusilier for his entire military career.[2][4]
