 He was born in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, the son of Thomas Heron of Chilham Castle, Kent, Recorder of Newark and educated at St John's College, Cambridge.He inherited his baronetcy and extensive estates in Lincolnshire from his uncle, Sir Richard Heron, 1st Baronet on the latter's death in 1805.He served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire for 1809–10 and was then elected at the 1812 general election as a member of parliament (MP) for Great Grimsby.