a younger son of george nugent-temple, 1st marquess of buckingham, by lady mary elizabeth nugent, only daughter and heiress of robert nugent, 1st earl nugent, he was born on 31 december 1788. his mother was created a baroness of the kingdom of ireland in 1800, with remainder to her second son; and on her death (16 march 1813) he consequently succeeded to the peerage. nugent was educated at brasenose college, oxford, and in 1810 received the honorary degree of d.c.l. from the university.