He was born at Syon House,[1] the eldest son and heir of Hugh Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland, and his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott, daughter of the 8th Duke of Buccleuch.

After succeeding to the dukedom on the death of his father, 11 October 1988, he was noted for planting many trees at Syon House, the Ducal residence at Brentford; for an unsuccessful foray into film-making involving the Duke in front of and behind the camera; for romantic relationships with Naomi Campbell's mother, Valerie, and with American actress Barbara Carrera; and for excessive and adventurous drug taking.

[4] He never married and died aged 42 from heart failure after an overdose of amphetamines.

[3][5] He was succeeded to the Dukedom by his younger brother Lord Ralph Percy.

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