Ancaster was born in Portman Square, Marylebone, London,[1] the son of Gilbert Heathcote, and Hon.

In 1852, Ancaster was elected to the House of Commons for Boston, a seat he held until 1856, and then represented Rutland until he succeeded his father as second Baron Aveland in 1867.

He held the office of Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain from 1871 to 1901 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1880.

In 1888, he succeeded his mother as 25th Baron Willoughby de Eresby and four years later he was created Earl of Ancaster, in the County of Lincoln, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Together, they were the parents of ten children:[3] Lord Ancaster died on 24 December 1910, aged 80, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son.