John Hervey was born in London, eldest child of John Hervey of Ickworth, Suffolk, and his second wife, Elizabeth Felton Hervey; he had sixteen full and three half siblings. His father became Baron Hervey of Ickworth in 1703 and earl of Bristol in 1714; his half brother's death in 1723 gave John the courtesy title of Lord Hervey. His parents were both courtiers, though his father's roots and taste lay in country life; he was early introduced to the company of the powerful, as well as to riding in horse races at Newmarket. He attended Westminster School (from the late age of sixteen) and Clare Hall, Cambridge (1713-1715). After his Grand Tour (1716-1717 extending only to Paris and Hannover, since "Mama's tears & fears" forbade him to proceed to Italy) he began to frequent the court in earnest. In April 1720 he married Mary Lepell, maid of honor to the Princess of Wales...