he was born on 11 january 1812, at wolverhampton. there, in the old chapel of ss. peter and paul in north street, he often, when a child, served the mass of bishop john milner. that prelate, taking a great liking to the boy, and observing in his little acolyte the signs of a vocation to the ecclesiastical state, sent him, in 1820, to sedgeley park academy. there he remained until june 1826, and in the following august was placed by bishop milner, as a clerical student, at st. mary's college, old oscott, now known as maryvale. he completed his studies as an oscotian with marked success, being chiefly distinguished by his proficiency in classics.