Born in London, he was educated at Cheltenham College (an independent school for boys) in England, followed by Clare College, Cambridge, and the University of Virginia Graduate School in the USA.
Born in London, he was educated at Cheltenham College (an independent school for boys) in England. He then did National Service as a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, graduated from Clare College, Cambridge with a history degree and attended the University of Virginia Graduate School in the USA.