Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard was born at the Contreras Plantation in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, the son of Jacques Toutant-Beauregard, a sugar planter, and Helene Judith de Reggio. He was of French and Creole descent.

Beauregard received his early education at a French school in New Orleans. His Creole heritage profoundly influenced his life, giving him a unique cultural perspective and shaping his later views on Southern identity and rights.

Beauregard was sent to a school in New York City to improve his English and broaden his educational horizons. This experience likely exposed him to different perspectives and prepared him for future studies.

Beauregard was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. This was a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of his formal military training and setting him on a path towards a career in the army.