He was born in Slaughter House Lane on 30 March 1788, and baptised at the parish church of Great St. Mary's on 25 April.

He and his two brothers - the elder of whom, Charles Musgrave, became eventually archdeacon of Craven - were educated at Richmond Grammar School, then at the zenith of its reputation under Dr Tate.

In 1821, though his knowledge of eastern tongues was by no means profound, he was appointed Lord Almoner's Professor of Arabic.

He became senior bursar of his college in 1825, and during a long tenure of the office, only resigning it when he left Cambridge in 1837, his sound judgment and practical knowledge of business proved of great service.

He and Sedgwick drew up a paper addressed to the Master, which was signed by George Peacock, afterwards Dean of Ely, Romilly, and others, calling upon him to summon a meeting of the seniority to take the matter into consideration.

[2] Three months later, he was nominated Bishop of Hereford by the Crown on 5 August and consecrated on 1 October 1837,[3] by Archbishop Howley at Lambeth.

At Hereford, he revived the office of rural dean, and was instrumental in setting up the Diocesan Church Building Society.