He succeeded to the peerage in 1943 at the age of 4 when his father was killed in action during the Second World War and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford.

He was then moved to the Northern Ireland Office as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State where he remained until he left the government in 1989.

He was however elected as one of the 92 elected hereditary peers to remain in the House of Lords pending completion of House of Lords reform.

He was a regular visitor to Station Park, always sponsoring the last home game of the season.