LIVES 
OF 
DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIFIC MEN. 
THE HISTORY OF MY YOUTH: 
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS ARAGO. 
I HAVE not the foolish vanity to imagine that any one, 
even a short time hence, will have the curiosity to find 
out how my first education was given, and how my mind 
was developed ; but some biographers, writing off hand 
and without authority, havig given details on this sub- 
ject utterly incorrect, and of a nature to imply negligence 
on the part of my pagents, I consider myself bound to 
put them right. 
I was born on the 26th of February, 1786, in the 
commune of Estagel, an ancient province of Roussillon 
(department of the Eastern Pyrenees). My father, a 
licentiate in law, had some little property in arable land, 
in vineyards, and in plantations of olive-trees, the income 
from which. supported his numerous family. 
I was thus three years old in 1789, four years old in 
1790, five years in 1791, six years in 1792, and seven 
years old in 1793, &e. 
. P” 
