A member of a noble family of Genoese origin that established itself in Naples in the 16th century, Ceva Grimaldi was born in Naples, the only son of Maria Adelaide Martini and Giuseppe Ceva Grimaldi [it] who had been the President of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies.

He nevertheless adhered to liberal ideals throughout his life, according to his eulogy in the Italian Senate delivered by Giuseppe Saracco.

During his time as a senator he was also on the administrative boards of the Real Casa Santa dell'Annunziata orphanage and the Società della Ferrovia Sicula Occidentale.

They had no children, and on his death in Rome in 1899 the title of Marchese di Pietracatella passed to Marcello, the son of his cousin Francesco Ceva Grimaldi (1806–1864).

This older Francesco Ceva Grimaldi was a writer and historian whose books included Memorie storiche della città di Napoli.