In 1864, he went to Harrow School and then Trinity College, Cambridge, but left about a year later due to health problems.

He lived abroad for a while, principally in Florence, but returned to Ireland upon the death of his mother in 1870, and assisted his father in the land agency work.

He was ordained in 1883 to a curacy at Corscombe, Dorset, but resided in London as head of St Martin's Mission, Stepney.

[7] In 1895 he again resigned owing to the refusal of Randall Davidson, the new Bishop of Winchester, to grant him a licence to officiate at the parish's new church on account of his intention specially to associate a third altar with masses for the dead.

He returned to the UK in the following year as vicar of St Saviour's, Poplar,[7] and retained the living until his death[5] in South Kensington, London, on 15 May 1902.