John Baptist was born into the wealthy and influential family of De La Salle in 1651, in the French city of Rheims. John Baptist was taught to read and write at home before beginning his formal school education. At 16 he was made a Canon of Rheims Cathedral and went on to study for the Priesthood in Paris.

At the age of 20, when his parents died he left the seminary to return home and take care of the family affairs and his six younger siblings. He later resumed his theological studies and was ordained a Priest in 1678. In 1980, John Baptist decided to invite the teachers to his home for meals, to give him a chance to help them overcome their deficiencies.

In June 1682, John Baptist and his teachers moved out of his family home to a rented house in Rue Neuve, Rheims, to dedicate fully for the welfare of the poor, especially to educate them. For the Priest born and raised in privileged and comfortable surroundings, this was a huge step into the world of poor. As the Brothers' reputation grew, many requests were made for their services and they had to take on more schools for boys. John Baptist died at the Brothers' Mother House at Saint Yon near Rouen, on April 7, 1719. His last words before he died were: "I adore in all things the Will of God in my regard". John Baptist De La Salle, the wealthy Priest who gave up everything for the poor, was Beatified in 1888, Canonized a Saint in 1900 and made the Universal Patron Saint of all teachers in 1950.