 Diệm was born into a prominent Catholic family, the son of a high-ranking civil servant, Ngô Đình Khả.He was educated at French-speaking schools and considered following his brother Ngô Đình Thục into the priesthood, but eventually chose to pursue a civil-service career.He progressed rapidly in the court of Emperor Bảo Đại, becoming governor of Bình Thuận Province in 1929 and interior minister in 1933.