St. Paul’s father, a Northumbrian gentleman driven into exile after killing a man in a duel, was a soldier of fortune in the Seven Years’ war, who returned to England with an Austrian title and a royal pardon, subsequently distinguishing himself in diplomacy, before retiring to his ancestral home. Horace, his eldest son, like his two brothers, entered the army, and served in the Toulon and Flanders expeditions (1793-5), but apparently saw no further active service.
Soon after succeeding his father, he was returned to Westminster after a contest for Bridport. George Rose commented that St. Paul and his brother, who came in for Berwick, would ‘probably be friendly at least for a time. They are disposed to attach themselves to the Duke of Northumberland.’
