hiː ɪz θˈɔːt tə hɐvbɪn bˈɔːɹn ɪn kˈɑːɹmɑːɹðən, sˈaʊθ wˈeɪlz, wˌɛɹ hiː bɪkˌeɪm ɛmplˈɔɪd baɪ nˈoʊɾᵻd ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛkt ænd plˈænɚ dʒˈɑːn nˈæʃ ɐn ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən wˌɪtʃ wʌz tə lˈæst sˌʌm fˈoːɹɾi jˈɪɹz.
He is thought to have been born in Carmarthen, south Wales, where he became employed by noted architect and planner John Nash – an association which was to last some 40 years.