the family moved to paris when james was four years old. the reason for the move is not known. one account says that moore's father was french, the rest of the family of irish and scottish background, but there is no confirmation. the family eventually lived at 2 cité godot-de-mauroy. james made friends with the michaux family of blacksmiths who lived opposite them at numbers 5 and 7. the michaux family, either pierre or his son ernest is credited with being first to add cranks and pedals to a vélocipède. moore owned a michaux vélocipède around 1865.