 He was born at Mullaghmore House, Omagh in 1923 and educated at Rockport School in Holywood Co Down, Loreto Convent Grammar School (Omagh), Portora Royal School,
Glasgow University and Harvard Business School.When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, Gorman was attending the Imperial Service College in Windsor.He then attended Portora Royal School, before joining the British Army.