Editing Isaac Bickerstaffe (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield.PNG|200px|thumb|right|Bickerstaff's first patron [[Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield|Lord Chesterfield]] who served as [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]]]]
Isaac John Bickerstaff was born in Dublin, on 26 September 1733, where his father [[John Bickerstaff]] held a government position overseeing the construction and management of sports fields including [[bowls]] and tennis courts. The office was abolished in 1745, and he received a pension from the government for the rest of his life.<ref>Tasch p. 24</ref>

In his early years, Isaac was a [[Page (occupation)|page]] to [[Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield|Lord Chesterfield]],{{sfn|Cousin|1910}} the [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]], which allowed him to mix with fashionable Dublin society. When Chesterfield was replaced in the position in 1745 he arranged for Isaac to be given a commission in the army. In October 1745, Bickerstaff joined the [[5th Regiment of Foot]] known as the Northumberland Fusiliers. He served as an [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] until 1746, when he was promoted to Lieutenant. The regiment, under the command of [[Alexander Irwin]], was on the [[Irish Army (Kingdom of Ireland)|Irish Establishment]] and was based in [[Kinsale]] in Ireland.<ref>Tasch p.25</ref> In March 1755, the regiment was moved to [[Bristol]] in England. Having recently come into some money, Isaac resigned his commission in August and went on [[half-pay]].

He intended to become a writer, but his first work was published but not performed and he soon ran into financial difficulties. By March 1758, he was so short of money that he joined the Marine Corps as a lieutenant stationed at [[Plymouth]] and served through the [[Seven Years' War]]. In 1763, following the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] he was honourably discharged as the Corps was reduced in size.