the seventh son of the rev. george gregory gardiner and frances mary touchet, he was born in bonn, prussia, where his father was a british chaplain. he attended grenoble university and was fluent in french, german, and english. a successful businessman who served on the boards of many companies; his chief interests were in mining and securities. he also was interested in the arts: he was the composer of the "lyric polka", he became director and chairman of the board of the alhambra theatre.