[1][2][3] Johannes Badrutt was born on 2 April 1819 in Samedan, Switzerland into an old-established Engadin valley family.

His father was Johannes Badrutt Sr., a contractor and building supplies merchant, originally from Pagig.

[4] His mother, Anna Maria (née Donatsch) Badrutt, hailed from Malans but she was introduced to her husband while working in Chur.

[7] His father owned a small inn, called A la Vue du Bernina (the round gabled house is still standing today).

In 1878, Badrutt went to the Exposition Universelle in Paris, France and purchased the first electrical lighting system, which he brought back to St.