Called “The Unknown Philosopher”, the pseudonym he adopted for his writings, he was born in Amboise (France), on January 18, 1743, in a family of the Nobility. He was educated by his father according to serious costumes of those days, and by his stepmother, since his mother had died in giving birth to him; the former did it with such tenderness that this impression would be decisive in the future for his affections.
Saint Martin is the connection between mystical lodges of the French pre-Revolution and social lodges of the liberal time.
By the end of the eighteen century, France was full of Masonic lodges founded by Cagliostro and, near Paris, in Versailles, Martines de Pasqualis had founded those lodges that later would be named lodges of the Philaletes and Great Prophets.