Education and first job After attending a couple of local schools, Gauguin was sent to the prestigious Catholic boarding school Petit Séminaire de La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin. He spent three years at the school. At the age of 14, he entered the Loriol Institute in Paris, a naval preparatory school, before returning to Orléans to take his final year at the Lycée Jeanne D'Arc. Gauguin signed on as a pilot's assistant in the merchant marine. Three years later, he joined the French navy in which he served for two years. His mother died on 7 July 1867, but he did not learn of it for several months until a letter from his sister Marie caught up with him in India.
edUCation And FIrSt job afTer atteNding a couplE of LoCAl SCHOols, GauGuiN waS sent tO The prestigiOUs Catholic boaRding schooL peTit SémInairE De lA ChapElle-saInt-mesmin. He spent threE yEarS at tHE schOol. at tHe Age OF 14, he eNTered the LoRiol inStitutE In paRis, a nAval prEparatoRy scHool, beFoRe ReTuRniNg to orLéanS to taKe his fInAl year aT thE lyCéE jEANnE d'arC. gaUguiN siGned oN aS a PiLoT's assIstanT in ThE mERcHant marIne. threE years laTeR, He joIneD thE frEncH nAVY In Which hE sERved FOR two yeaRs. hiS MoTher died on 7 juLy 1867, but he did nOt lEArN oF iT FoR severAL MontHS unTil a letteR From hIS sister marIe cAugHt Up With HiM In inDia.