In 1834 Dmitry married Christine Justine Cathérine Blanche von Bangeman-Huygens, comtesse de Løvendal (24 February 1810 - 1893).
In 1853, Dmitry Glinka was dispatched to Frankfurt am Main, where he would develop a rapport with Otto von Bismarck.
Being a supporter of an alliance between Russia, France and Prussia, Dmitry Glinka was trying to impede the anti-Russian policy of Otto Theodor von Manteuffel, a Prussian foreign minister.
On 8 June 1853 he was dismissed as charge d'affairs at the House of Hesse and then three years later appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Brazil, becoming privy councillor in April 1863.
In 1871, Dmitry Glinka was transferred to Lisbon to act as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, remaining on this post until his death.