He was the eldest son of James Walter Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam, and Lady Charlotte Jenkinson.
They had six children: Lord Verulam died in July 1895, aged 86, and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son James.
Verulam was elected to the House of Commons for St Albans in 1830, a seat he held until 1831, and then represented Newport, Cornwall from 1831 to 1832 and Hertfordshire from 1832 to 1845.
During a period of unrest in 1830 he raised the Cashio Troop of Hertfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry at the family seat of Gorhambury House and commanded it with the rank of captain.
[7] Several members of his family were first-class cricketers: three of his brothers Edward, Robert and Francis all played, as did his nephews Walter Grimston and Lord Hyde.