 Archibald Paris was born in 1890 in Southsea on Portsea Island, Portsmouth, the son of Major General Sir Archibald Paris, a Royal Marines officer who commanded the Royal Naval Division during the First World War, and of Lillian Jane ("née" Melvill), daughter of Gen. Henry Melvill and granddaughter of Rev.Canon Henry Melvill.He is descended from Capt.