 George Ormerod was born in Manchester and educated first privately, then briefly at the King's School, Chester, before continuing his education privately again under Rev Thomas Bancroft, vicar of Bolton.He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1803, graduated BA in 1806 and received the honorary degree of MA in 1807.In 1806, when he came of age, he inherited extensive estates in Tyldesley and south Lancashire.