[2] Born in 1749, the eldest son of a Roman Catholic farmer, he was educated at the Catholic College of St Omer before converting to Anglicanism.
Ordained a priest in 1773, he was entered on the books of Trinity College, Cambridge as a ten-year man the same year.
[3] His ecclesiastical career began with a college living at Grendon, Northamptonshire 1774–1776, following which he was a naval chaplain under Admiral Howe in 1776.
[4] Later he was Vicar of West Deeping 1779-1783 and chaplain and private secretary to the Duke of Portland 1782–1783.
[5] Returning to his native Ireland he became the incumbent at Templemichael, from which post he ascended to the episcopate:[5] He became Anglican bishop of Ossory in 1795, and in 1798 was transferred to the see of Meath.