Elliot was born in Dresden, Saxony, on 15 August 1801 to Margaret and Hugh Elliot. He was one of nine children. His uncle was Scottish diplomat Gilbert Elliott, 1st Earl of Minto. He was educated at Reading School in Reading, Berkshire, England. On 26 March 1815, Elliot joined the Royal Navy as a first-class volunteer on board HMS "Leviathan", which served in the Mediterranean Station. "A Naval Biographical Dictionary". London: John Murray. p. 332.&lt;/ref&gt; In July 1816, he became a midshipman on board HMS "Minden", in which he served in the bombardment of Algiers against Barbary pirates in August 1816. He then served in the East Indies Station for four years under Sir Richard King. In 1820, he joined the cutter "Starling" under Lieutenant-Commander John Reeve in the Home Station, and HMS "Queen Charlotte" under James Whitshed.