Jean (known as Édouard) MANEC was born on May 31st 1808 in Clairac. He is the son of Pierre Manec, carpenter, and Jeanne Vergnol, inhabitants of Clairac. He was a tutor in Beurre (Villeneuve-sur-Lot) for the young Albéric de Blanche, then in Combreux for Arthur de La Rochefoucauld, son of the Duke of Estissac.
Before entering the seminary and during his theological studies, he translated from Spanish the volumes of Philosophie fondamentale et de Art d'arriver au vrai : philosophie pratique by Jaime Balmès.
He was ordained priest on July 3, 1853. Professor of philosophy and dogmatic theology at the major seminary, he was vicar general of Monsignor Jean-Aimé de Lévézou de Vesins, bishop of Agen from July 16, 1854, then vicar general capitular on April 12, 1867. He was Vicar General of Bishop Hector-Albert Chaulet d'Outremont on April 1, 1871, then of Bishop Jean-Émile Fonteneau on February 16, 1875.
Father Jean Manec, Vicar General of Agen, was named Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by decree of August 4, 1875. His knight's cross was presented to him by the President of the Republic on September 25, 1875. He died on April 30, 1880.
