 Cattell was born on June 16, 1863, at Princeton, New Jersey, the son of Anna Ashburner and Thomas Ware Cattell.His boyhood and youthful days were spent in Lincoln, Pennsylvania, where his father held an honored position with the University.In 1880, Cattell entered the Pardee Scientific Department of Lafayette College and completed the four-year course there, having been graduated in 1884 with the degree of Civil Engineer.