At the time that Jacques was born Amédée was teaching at the Lycée Impérial in Versailles but the family moved to Paris when Jacques was three years old when his father took up a position at the Lycée Charlemagne.
Sa oras na Jacques ay ipinanganak Amédée ay pagtuturo sa Lycée Imperial sa Versailles ngunit ang pamilya inilipat sa Paris kapag Jacques ay tatlong taon gulang na kapag ang kanyang ama took up ng isang posisyon sa Lycée Charlemagne.