Originating from the town of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, he studied at the University of Cambridge and later at All Souls College, Oxford,[2] and served as Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London between 1540 and 1545.

Incent is noted for being one of the agents of the Lord Chancellor Thomas Cromwell, responsible for the sequestration of religious properties during the Dissolution of the Monasteries[1] and as the founder of Berkhamsted School.

[3] His home in Berkhamsted, built in 1500, remains in use to the present day, situated on the High Street facing St Peter's Church.

According to the inscriptions, Robert died in 1485 of the Great Sweating Sickness:[5] Here lyeth buryed and thys stone the body of Robert Incent Gentylman late suant to the nobel pryncess Cecyle duchesse of Yorke & mother unto the worthy kyng Edward and Richard the thyrde whych sayd Robert dyed of the grete swetyng sykeness the first yere of the reygne of kyng Henry the vii upon whose sowlys Jhu have mercy Amen.Here lyeth buryed und(er) thys stone the bodye of Kateryn sumtyme wife of Robert Incent, Vgent father and mother unto John Incent docto(r) of ye lawe who hath done many benyfyt & ornament given unto thys chapel of Saynt John whyche sayd Kateryn dyed the XII day of Marche ye xii yere of the reygne of kyng Henry the viii.At the age of 20, Incent studied civil law for one year at Cambridge University, continuing his studies at All Souls College, Oxford and graduating as a Bachelor of Common Law.

[6] Records of the time state that Incent "builded with all speed a fair schoole lartge and great all of brick very sumptuously.".

The school received a common seal bearing Incent's coat of arms of crossed swords on a blue shield.