DoctorEugeneCurie'sremarkablepersonalityimpressedallwhoapproachedhim.Hewasatallman,whoinyouthmusthavebeenblonde,withbeautifulblueeyesofaclearnessandbrilliancythatwerestrikingeveninanadvancedoldage.Theseeyes,whichhadretainedachild-likeexpression,reflectedgoodnessandintelligence.Hehadindeedunusualintellectualcapacities,averyliveaptitudeforthenaturalsciences,andthetemperamentofascholar.
Althoughhewishedtoconsecratehislifetoscientificwork,familyresponsibilitiesfollowinghismarriageandthebirthoftwosonsforcedhimtorenouncethisdesire.Thenecessitiesoflifeobligedhimtopracticehismedicalprofession.Hecontinued,however,suchexperimentalresearchashismeanspermitted,inparticularundertakinganinvestigationuponinoculationfortuberculosisatatimewhenthebacterialnatureofthismaladywasnotyetestablished.Hisscientificavocationsdevelopedinhimthehabitofmakingexcursionsinsearchoftheplantsandanimalsnecessarytohisexperiments,andthishabit,aswellashisloveofNature,gavehimamarkedpreferenceforcountrylife.Untiltheendofhislifeheconservedhisloveforscience,and,withoutdoubt,also,hisregretatnothavingbeenabletodevotehimselfexclusivelytoit.
Hismedicalcareerremainedalwaysamodestone,butitrevealedremarkablequalitiesofdevotionanddisinterestedness.AtthetimeoftheRevolutionof,whenhewasstillastudent,theGovernmentoftheRepublicconferredonhimamedal,"forhishonorableandcourageousconduct"inservingthewounded.Hehimselfhadbeenstruck,onFebruaryth,byaballwhichshatteredapartofhisjaw.Alittlelater,duringacholeraepidemic,heinstalledhimself,inorderthathemightlookafterthesick,inaquarterofParisdesertedbyphysicians.DuringtheCommuneheestablishedahospitalinhisapartment(ruedelaVisitation)nearwhichtherewasabarricade,andtherehecaredforthewounded.Throughthisactofcivismandbecauseofhisadvancedconvictionshelostapartofhisbourgeoispatronage.Atthistimeheacceptedthepositionofmedicalinspectoroftheorganizationfortheprotectionofyoungchildren.ThedutiesofthispostpermittedhimtoliveinthesuburbsofPariswherehealthconditionsforhimselfandhisfamilyweremuchbetterthanthoseofthecity.
DoctorCuriehadverypronouncedpoliticalconvictions.Temperamentallyanidealist,hehadembracedwithardorthatrepublicandoctrinewhichinspiredtherevolutionariesof.HewasunitedinfriendshipwithHenriBrissonandthemenofhisgroup.Likethem,afreethinkerandananticlerical,hedidnothavehissonsbaptized,nordidhehavethempracticeany,formofreligion.
Pierre'smother,ClaireDepouilly,wasthedaughterofaprominentmanufacturerofPuteaux,nearParis.Herfatherandbrothersdistinguishedthemselvesthroughtheirnumerousinventionsconnectedwiththemakingofdyesandspecialtissues.Thefamily,whichwasofSavoy,wascaughtinthebusinesscatastrophecausedbytheRevolutionof,andruined.Andthesereversesoffortune,addedtothosewhichDoctorCuriehadexperiencedduringhiscareer,meantthatheandhisfamilylivedalwaysincomparativelystraightenedcircumstances,withthedifficultiesofexistenceoftenrenewed.Eventhoughraisedforalifeofease,Pierre'smotheracceptedwithtranquilcouragetheprecariousconditionswhichlifebroughther,andgaveproofofanextremedevotionasshemadelifeeasierforherhusbandandchildrenbyheractivityandhergoodwill.