Alain de Solminihac was born on November 25, 1593 at the Château de Belet in Périgord to the noble Périgourdine family. At the age of 22 (1614), Alain entered the Augustinian Canons Regular Abbey of Chancelade near Périgueux — where he became abbot at the young age of 21.
Under Alain's governance, the Chancelade Abbey became the reform-center of the French Augustinian Canons Regular tradition.
In 1636, King Louis XIII of France appointed Alain as Bishop of Cahors — the principal Périgourdine-Quercy diocese. Alain undertook the systematic Counter-Reformation reform of the Diocese of Cahors for the 23 years (1636–1659).
Alain's episcopal reforms included: conducting eight general diocesan visitations — personally visiting every parish of the vast Cahors diocese eight times; founding the diocesan seminary; suppressing lax religious houses and reforming the surviving houses; undertaking the systematic charitable and hospital reform.
He maintained close personal collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul (see the existing entry) on the Cahors diocesan reforms.
He died at Cahors on December 31, 1659 at the age of 66.