 Louis François was born on 14 January 1742 to François Perrin (d. 1748) and his wife Marguerite Marque de Farges (d. 1754).Louis was twelve years old when his mother died and was placed in the care of his uncle, an officer who agreed to take him into the regiment he commanded.Louis went to Valenciennes in 1755 where he learned the profession of a soldier in the Regiment of Picardy.