He was educated at Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

[2] He became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq.

[3] He went on to be chief of staff for 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division in Germany in 2008,[3] commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade in March 2011 and Director (Army) at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in April 2014.

[4] He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 26 February 2015 for distinguished services in Afghanistan.

[5] Nanson became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in September 2015.