He was born in Dublin, the son of a Huguenot, Captain Hector Francois Chataigner de Cramahé, Seigneur de Cramahé et des Rochers, aide de camp to Henri de Massue, 1st Earl of Galway.
He was born Theophile Hector Chataigner de Cramahé in Dublin, the son of a Huguenot, Captain Hector Francois Chataigner de Cramahé, Seigneur de Cramahé et des Rochers. His father served as aide de camp to the leader of William III's Huguenot regiments, Henri de Massue, 1st Earl of Galway.