 He was the godfather of the writer Sir P. G. Wodehouse, who was named Pelham in his honour.Donop was born in Southsea, Hampshire, the eldest of four sons (and three daughters) of Commander (later Vice-Admiral) Edward Pelham Brenton von Donop, RN.He was educated at Royal Somersetshire College, Bath, before entering the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in 1869.