Louis Christophe François Hachette

Hachette was born on 5 May 1800 at Rethel in the Ardennes département of France. He was a son of Jean Hachette (1775–1840) and Marie Ledouble (1781–1862).

After studying for three years at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure with the intention of becoming a teacher, in 1822, he was expelled, on political grounds. In 1826, after briefly studying law, Hachette opened Brédif, a bookshop located near the Sorbonne in Paris. The focus of the business was to produce works designed to improve the system of school instruction and to promote general culture in the community. He published manuals on various topics including dictionaries of modern and ancient languages, educational journals, and French, Latin and Greek classics annotated by the most eminent authorities.

Hachette was married twice, first to Amélie Catherine Marie Agathe Barbedienne (1803–1832) on 17 February 1827 in Paris. Before her death, they were the parents of:

Marie-Joséphine Hachette (1828–1831), who died young.

Louise Agathe Hachette (1829–1900), who married Emile François Templier in 1849.

Alfred Louis Hachette (1832–1872), who married Marie Aumont in 1861.

After Amelie died in 1832, he married Pauline (née Royer) Auzat (1804–1872), the widow of Édouard Jean Maurice Auzat, on 29 January 1836 in Paris. Before his death, they were the parents of a son:

George-Jean Hachette (1832–1892), who married Marie Teyssier in 1868.

Hachette died in Paris on 31 July 1864.