Saragat was born on 19 September 1898 in
Turin, in the region of
Piedmont, to
Sardinian parents Giovanni Saragat (1855–1938), of
Catalan descent, and Ernestina Stratta (1872–1965). He had an older brother, Eugenio "Ennio" (1897–1929), and a younger brother, Pietro (1899–1938). His grandfather's surname was originally Saragattu-Mulinas, but was later shortened. Graduating in accountancy in 1915, Saragat took part in
World War I as an artillery lieutenant of the
Royal Italian Army on the
Karst Plateau. After the war, he graduated in Economy and Commerce from the
University of Turin in 1920, and became employed in banking. during his presidency as Saragat was widowered in 1961 In January 1926, Saragat married
Milanese seamstress Giuseppina Bollani (1898–1961), with whom he had two children: Giovanni (1926–2007) and Ernestina "Tina" (b. 1928). Due to political persecution, he fled to
Vienna in 1926 (joined by his wife in 1927) and then to France in 1929. ==Political career==