LIVES 



OP 



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, having given details on this sub- 

 ject utterly incorrect, and of a nature to imply negligence 

 on the part of my parents, 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, &c. 



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