[4] His best singles performance at Wimbledon came in 1886 when he reached the semifinal of the All Comers tournament in which he lost in five sets to compatriot Ernest Lewis.

Herbert was a brother of physicist Lionel, son of judge Edward, grandson of archdeacon Robert and great-grandson of abolitionist William Wilberforce.

[6] Having studied law at the University of London, he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1888, and practised on the North Eastern Circuit.

[7] A member of the Liberal Party, Wilberforce unsuccessfully contested Hackney North at the 1900 General Election.

In 1901 he was elected to the London County Council as a Progressive Party councillor representing St Pancras North.