eginald Heber showed remarkable promise, and in November 1800 entered Brasenose College, Oxford, where he proved a distinguished student, carrying off prizes for a Latin poem entitled Carmen seculare, an English poem on Palestine, and a prose essay on The Sense of Honour.  In November 1804, he was elected a fellow of All Souls'. After completing his university career, he went on a long tour of Europe.

Having taken holy orders in 1807, he took up the family living of Hodnet in Shropshire. In 1809 he married Amelia Shipley, daughter of the Dean of St Asaph. He was made prebendary of St Asaph in 1812, appointed Bampton lecturer for 1815, preacher at Lincoln's Inn in 1822, and Bishop of Calcutta in January 1823. Before sailing for India he received the degree of D.D. from the University of Oxford.  In India, Bishop Heber laboured indefatigably - not only for the good of his own diocese, but for the spread of Christianity throughout the East. He toured the country, consecrating churches, founding schools and discharging other Christian duties.

His devotion to his work in a trying climate told severely on his health. At Trichinopoly (or Trichy in Tamil) he was seized with an apoplectic fit when in his bath, and died. In Trichy, Bishop Heber College is named after him - and is famous for education and sports. A statue of him, by Chantrey, was erected at Calcutta. Another monument to Heber, also by Chantrey, can be seen along the south wall of the Ambulatory of Saint Paul's Cathedral. Heber is depicted as a kneeling figure in Episcopal robes. The relief on the pedestal represents the prelate confirming converted Indians.