Hume Babington was born in 1804 to the Rev. Richard
Babington and his wife Mary Boyle, both members of the
Anglo-Irish landed gentry. His father, the rector of Lower Comber (Diocese of Derry), led an extravagant lifestyle and is said to have left debts of £40,000 on his death in 1831, aged 66, equivalent to some £4.1 million as of 2019. His father's debt was paid off by his two brothers Richard (1795–1870) and Anthony of Creevagh (1800–1869) between them. Another brother was Major-General
William Babington. He was educated at
Trinity College, Dublin. == Life as a clergyman ==