How He Grew Up
Childhood
René was the son of Joachim and Jeanne Descartes, Joachim a Councilor in Parliament and and intellectual who made certain to provide a good learning environment for his son. Jeanne had died the year after René was born giving birth to his brother, Pierre. His mother had possibly have had tuberculosis causing René to have a dry cough and pale complexion up until his twenties. His father remarried. Joachim had 2 children with his new wife, so step brother and step sister to René, were Anne and Joachim. He was named after one of his godfathers, René Brochard des Fontaines. At the age of 8 René attended the Jesuit College of Henry IV in La Flèche. There he studied Grammar, Science, and Mathematics. In 1614 he left the Jesuit College to learn and study Civil and Cannon Law at Poiters. In 1616, he received his baccalaureate and licentiate degrees in Law. Aside from his studies in Law René also studied Medicine, Philosophy and, Theology. René did not enter the practice of law. He instead rejoined his family and learned how to ride horses, fence, and other things that young men during this time period would learn to do. After his stay in the military, Descartes went on to continue his intellectual pursuits, write philosophical essays, and explore the world of science and mathematics.
In 1614 he left the Jesuit College to learn and study Civil and Cannon Law at Poiters. In 1616, he received his baccalaureate and licentiate degrees in Law. Aside from his studies in Law René also studied Medicine, Philosophy and, Theology. René did not enter the practice of law. He instead rejoined his family and learned how to ride horses, fence, and other things that young men during this time period would learn to do. After his stay in the military, Descartes went on to continue his intellectual pursuits, write philosophical essays, and explore the world of science and mathematics.