He was born in Windermere, Westmorland, the son of the founder of K Shoes, and was initially educated at Uppingham School and King's College, Cambridge, where he studied composition under Sir Charles Villiers Stanford.
He was born in Windermere, Westmorland, the son of Robert Miller Somervell, J.P. (1821-1899), the founder of K Shoes (formerly known as'Somervell Brothers'). Somervell was initially educated at Uppingham School and King's College, Cambridge, where he studied composition under Sir Charles Villiers Stanford.