Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie was born at Bayonne on October 31, 1825. His father occupied a good position in the Customs, and his mother, Laure-Louise Latrilhe, was a daughter of the Director of the Royal Mint at Bayonne. Both parents were held in general esteem on account of their high moral character and strict religious principles.

From his earliest years the future Cardinal gave unmistakable signs of a vocation to the ecclesiastical state, those who were his companions still remembering how he loved to give everything a religious colouring and re-enact in his very games the ceremonies of the Church which he had witnessed. As he was the eldest son, his father had formed views of a different nature in regard to his future career; yet when he saw how decided was the boy's vocation, he had the good sense not to oppose it: Charles was therefore sent at an early age to a school in his native town, and subsequently to the Diocesan Seminary at Larresorre, where he remained until he was fifteen.

In regard to this period of his life we cannot do better than quote the words of the illustrious Cardinal himself, written on the occasion of the death of Monseigneur Lacroix, bishop of Bayonne:–

‘The death of this memorable prelate has deeply touched me, and this for two reasons. First, because he was, in my eyes, the chief member of the French Episcopate, being moreover the bishop of my native diocese ; and, secondly, because he played a part in the most decisive actions of my life.