Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Patterson grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

As a child, Patterson
was a voracious reader and later credited his passion for reading with fueling his creative drive to be an
author. His upbringing in Belfast also exposed him to the political and religious violence that characterized
the city at the time. At seven years old, Patterson was caught in gunfire while riding a tram, and later was in
a Belfast movie theater when it was bombed. Though he escaped from both attacks unharmed, the turmoil in
Northern Ireland would later become a significant influence in his books, many of which prominently feature
the Irish Republican Army. After attending grammar school and college in Leeds, England, Patterson joined
the British Army and served two years in the Household Cavalry, from 1947 to 1949, stationed along the East
German border. He was considered an expert sharpshooter.