His father was a member of the Italian nobility who held significant tracts of land outside Milan.
His adopted mother eventually wrote a pamphlet regarding the alleged barbarity of Napoleon's army after her son's story.
On 7 November 1814, he married Harriet Maria Pemberton of Ryton Grove, Shropshire, receiving Brynbella, along with the rest of Mrs Piozzi's estates in Flint, Denbigh and Caernarvonshire and becoming one of the foremost landowners in Wales.
His mother attempted to secure a baronetcy for him during that same year from the Viscount Sidmouth, but he spent the money on his extensive gambling debts.
As Hester Piozzi was the last living member of the Salusbury family, she secured the rights and privileges of her father for her son.