Gabriel Letainturier was born an illegitimate child born under his mother’s name Fradin. He was legitimized and became Gabriel Letainturier in 1886, when his parents finally married. Later he was deputy prefect in various departments from 1895. From 1911 he held the office of prefect, first in Hautes-Alpes and then in Yonne. A pioneer in introducing physical education and sport into schools, he was also chairman of several gymnastics clubs. At the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, he acted as a referee in fencing.
Under the name Letainturier-Fradin, he wrote perhaps the most detailed non-fictionalized biography of La Maupin – Mistress of the Sword (1670-1707), born Julie d’Aubigny. A 17th-century swordswoman and opera singer, he described her life, her duels and her adventures. Her tumultuous career and flamboyant life were the subject of gossip and colorful stories in her own time. Around 1904, Letainturier-Fradin published Les joueurs d ‘Épée à travers les siècles, a history of fencing art with a special focus on French fencers from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. At times, he used the pseudonym D’Arcy.