There was a time when a blacksmith used to treat a person suffering from dog bite. And if at all the dog was mad, the cure was worse than the disease : a very hot iron rod would be branded on the wound. Rarely, a person undergoing such a painful treatment would survive. A boy of nine was witness to a similar incident. After 50 long years since the occurrence of that incident, he found a painless treatment that replaced the horrendous remedies of those days with a very simple and not so long treatment.

After a thorough examination of the rabid dog, he succeeded in providing a panacea. This was a major breakthrough in the world of science. The person to provide such a historic breakthrough was none other than Louis Pasteur. He was born, on December 27, 1822, to a poorly educated tanner, a trade of his forefathers. 

On the bank opposite the tannery resided a family of gardeners. Jean would often watch a young girl working in the garden early, every morning. She immediately noticed a very young yet, "old soldier"; all of 25 years keenly noticing every movement of hers. Her name was Jeanne Etiennette Roqui, future mother of Louis Pasteur. The Roqui' were vineyard workers , lampmakers and plumbers. Jeannne' parents were living out quietly  in the old Salins faubourg. Jeanne was intelligent, modest and a kind hearted lady. The couple seems to be made for each other. 

The couples first child , a baby girl lived only for a few months, in the year 1818. In 1822, on a Friday dated December 27, Louis was born at about 2 am.  Louis spent the first few months of his childhood in the ancient town of Dole. His mother Jeanne was a good housekeeper. She used to stitch all her children’s clothes out of her old skirts and shawls. Though the poor parents could not afford to give Louis the best of education, their enthusiasm led them to Marnoz town. Jean – Joseph moved there in the hope of getting more work with the couples common saying, "Louis’ future is worth all our sacrifices."

At Arbois, the famous town, known for its grape farms, in the Jura region, Louis liked to play with his two younger sisters Virginie and Josephine. He also loved to hear the tales about Emperor Napoleon’s wars from his father. These heroic tales of valor aroused patriotic passion in his heart, a passion that lasted till his death.

When Louis was six, his father sent him to a college in Arbois. Louis showed little interest in anything but drawing. He made a number of portraits of his parents and friends in his student days. During his childhood and youth, Louis did not show any sign of a great scientist in-the-making. Had he not become a scientist, he would certainly have been a great artist. Some of his portraits made in his youth, still adorn the walls of the Pasteur Institute.

After having primary and secondary education in a college of Arbois, he joined the Royal College in Besancon. Louis never felt homesick at Besancon as he worked very hard, and with great enthusiasm. Moreover, his father would often drop in at weekends in preparation for the coming week's market and would utilize that opportunity to motivate his son’s interest towards studies. 

Louis earned his B.A. in 1840 and B.Sc. in 1842. He had all the qualities of a good professor. The next year, he joined the Ecole Normale Superieure, the well-known teachers college in Paris. Louis wanted to be a renowned professor. He was very much interested in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. He got his Ph.D. in 1847. At 26, he became Professor of Physics at Dijon Lycee and shortly after two years, he was invited to join Strasburg University. There he served successfully as a Professor of Chemistry. Here, he came in close contact with Monsieur Laurent, the Rector of the University. Within a few weeks, he fell in love with the Rector’s daughter, Marie.

Marie was four years younger to Louis. She was very pretty, gentle and wise. The period of his courtship was the only time in his life Louis deserted his laboratory. He doubted whether Marie would accept him as her husband. He expressed his feelings thus in a letter, "I woke up suddenly with the idea that you did not love me, I began to weep… I had never cried so much since the death of my dear mother. My work means nothing to me any more. And I used to love my crystals so, I used to wish, every evening, that the night would be shorter so that I could return to my studies all the sooner!"

Louis’ words touched Marie’s heart and eventually they got married on May 29, 1849. The marriage was ideal and Marie proved herself to be humble, intelligent and a cooperative wife. She could clearly feel her husband’s passion for science. According to one of Louis’ colleagues, Madame Pasteur was a priceless companion and the best of Pasteur's collaborator. The Pasteurs had five children but unfortunately only two of them survived.