He held a place as a Lord-in-waiting in several governments, migrating from the Tory to the Liberal Party over the course of his career.
His four sons all suffered from a lung disease, and only the youngest briefly survived him to inherit the barony.
He was educated at Harrow School from 1821 to 1826, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 5 June 1828.
Initially a Tory, he served as a Lord-in-waiting under Sir Robert Peel from 1841 to 1846.
These were: He died in April 1866, aged 55, and was succeeded in the barony by his fourth but only surviving son, Henry.