The son of an architect in London, he was educated at University College School, King's College London and Trinity College, Cambridge,[1] from where he subsequently entered the Church, and, after holding various minor preferments (including teaching at Sheffield Collegiate School from 1864 to 1866),[2] became Master of the Temple in July 1894.

[3] He was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to Queen Victoria 28 January 1895,[4] and a Chaplain-in-Ordinary to her Majesty 2 March 1896.

[5] He wrote memoirs of Thomas Hood and George Crabbe, but is best known for his biography of Charles Lamb and his edition of Lamb's works in 6 volumes (1883–88).

In 1906 Edith Sichel published a 354-page biography of Ainger.

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