Born in Richelieu, France, he was initially apprenticed as a shoemaker at age 12 after he was told his parents could not afford to send him to the seminary.
Lahir di Richelieu, Prancis, dia awalnya magang sebagai tukang sepatu pada usia 12 setelah dia diberitahu bahwa orang tuanya tidak mampu untuk mengirim dia ke seminari.