pescheret was born in the london suburb of chiswick, england to french parents. his father was a chef for queen victoria until she died. pescheret began his studies at the royal college of engraving in kensington under malcolm osborne, and the battersea polytechnic (now called the university of surrey) in london. in 1910, his father moved the family to washington d.c. and became chef for the british ambassador to the united states.