 Price was born in Llangeinor, Wales, the son of a dissenting minister. He was initially educated privately, but after the death of his parents was encouraged by an uncle to attend the dissenting academy in Moorfields, London. In 1744 Price became family chaplain to George Streatfield at Stoke Newington. His duties were not onerous, leaving him ample time for study. It was here that he began what became his most important work: A Review of the Principal Questions in Morals (1758; 3rd. ed. 1787). In its main doctrines Price was strongly influenced by Ralph Cudworth, whose Treatise Concerning Eternal and Immutable Morality was published posthumously in 1731. In 1757 Streatfield died and, his financial circumstances having improved, Price married Sarah Blundell in June of that year and became, shortly after, the minister in Newington Green, where he remained for most of his life.