He began his education at Charterhouse School in 1805, before moving to Eton College in 1822, and then matriculating at Christ Church, Oxford in 1815.
[3] In 1832, at the request of local freeholders, he was elected again to parliament, this time representing the new constituency (along with Gilbert Heathcote) and a member of the Whig party.
As well as forming a company for the project, Northern and Eastern, Handley obtained the services of engineer James Walker to survey the proposed route.
[5][3] Handley's support of the Whig government in an 1840 vote of no confidence caused a falling out with his party and he decided not to stand in the 1841 general election.
The following year Sleaford townspeople began raising a subscription to construct a memorial in the town, eventually obtaining £942.