Chase was born on 14 September 1820, at Château de Saulruit, near St. Omer, the second son of John Woodford Chase of Cosgrave, Northamptonshire. He matriculated from Pembroke College, Oxford on 15 February 1839, became scholar of Oriel College on 22 May 1839, and was one of four who obtained first-class honours in classics in Michaelmas term, 1841.
