Upton was the second son of John Upton, 1st Viscount Templetown of Botleys, Surrey and Lady Mary Montagu, daughter of John Montagu, 5th Earl of Sandwich He joined the British Army in 1823 and was promoted lieutenant in 1825, captain in 1826, major in 1837, and lieutenant-colonel in 1841, all in the 62nd Foot, with the exception of the period 13 February 1827 to 8 June 1830 when serving as a Captain with 60th rifles.

He was made a commander of the Legion of Honour in 1856[5] and awarded the Order of the Medjidie (fourth class) in 1858.

[6] In 1859 he was returned to parliament for County Antrim, a seat he held until 1863,[7] when he succeeded his childless elder brother in the viscountcy.

Lord Templetown died in January 1890, aged 87, and was buried at Castle Upton, County Antrim.

He had married Susan Woodford, the daughter of Field Marshal Sir Alexander Woodford GCB and was succeeded in the viscountcy by his nephew, Henry, son of his younger brother Edward John Upton.