ali first went to britain in 1891 to study law at st john's college, cambridge and after graduating ba and ll.b in 1895 he returned to india in the same year with a post in the indian civil service (ics), later being called to the bar in lincoln's inn in 1896 in absentia. he received his ma and ll.m in 1901. he married teresa mary shalders (1873–1956) at st peter's church in bournemouth in 1900, and with her he had three sons and a daughter: edris yusuf ali (1901–1992), asghar bloy yusuf ali (1902–1971), alban hyder yusuf ali (1904–), and leila teresa ali (1906–). his wife and children settled variously in tunbridge wells, st albans and norwich while ali returned to his post in india. he returned to britain in 1905 on a two-year leave from the ics and during this period he was elected a fellow of the royal society of arts and the royal society of literature. ali first came to public attention in britain after he gave a lecture at the royal society of arts in london in 1906, organised by his mentor sir george birdwood. another mentor was lord james meston, formerly lieutenant governor of the united provinces, who, when he was made finance member of the government of india appointed ali to positions in various districts in india which also involved two short periods as acting under secretary (1907) and then deputy secretary (1911–12) in the finance department of the government of india.