Howard was born at his father's house in Chiswick, London,[2] the fifth son of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle, and his wife Lady Georgiana Dorothy, daughter of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire and Lady Georgiana Spencer.
Among his siblings were older brothers, George Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle, and the Rev.
William George Howard, 8th Earl of Carlisle, both of whom died unmarried and without legitimate issue.
[3] Howard was elected to the House of Commons as one of two representatives for Cumberland East at a by-election in 1840, a seat he held until his death in 1879.
Designed by Edward Burne-Jones, it depicts Christ the Good Shepherd and four saints: Martin, the patron of the church; Mary, the Virgin; Dorothy, and George.