徳川家治
Eishi was born Hosoda Tokitomi () in 1756 to a well-provided samurai family that was part of the prestigious Fujiwara clan. His grandfather Hosoda Tokitoshi (細田 時敏) had held an influential position in the shogunate as Treasury Minister. In 1772 he came to head his family when his father Hosoda Tokiyuki () died. From 1781 he held a position in the palace of the "shōgun", Tokugawa Ieharu.