Early Life and Education
Vincent was born in Slinfold, near Horsham in Sussex, the second son of Sir Frederick Vincent, 11th Baronet, the village's rector. His brothers included Sir William Vincent, 12th Baronet, Claude Vincent, who became an administrator in India, and the financier and diplomat Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon.
He was educated at Westminster School and in November 1866 entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Passing out in 1868, he purchased a commission in the 23rd Foot (later the Royal Welch Fusiliers). He was promoted Lieutenant in 1871. In 1871, he served as a correspondent with the Daily Telegraph in Berlin and then went on to Russia to learn the language and study the country's military organisation. In 1872 he began to write articles and lecture at the Royal United Services Institution. After his regiment was posted to Ireland later that year, he began to address political meetings on the Irish question, expressing generally Liberal views.
On 3 May 1873, Vincent enrolled as a pupil barrister at the Inner Temple. In that and the following year he travelled to Turkey and again to Russia, learning Turkish (to add to Russian, French, German and Italian, which he already knew). He also became an expert on the politics of the Near East. In 1874, he was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Militia as a Captain. He resigned his commission in November 1875, but a month later was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 40th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps (Central London Rangers), again resigning his commission in 1878. He continued to write on political and military matters.
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