the young henry was baptised at holyrood church, southampton. later, he attended southampton grammar school (now king edward vi school, southampton). as a youth, probably as a reaction against his strict upbringing, he adopted a libertine lifestyle. this left him with venereal disease which gave him problems during the rest of his life. his marriage to celia anne crowcher (1779–1848) on 24 november 1798 at st mary's church, portsea was a failure and was annulled in 1802. he disputed the paternity of their only daughter, sarah anne, and never publicly acknowledged her.