He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and he became a barrister at the Inner Temple in 1831, rising to be a Queen's Counsel in 1841.

[2] He returned to the House of Commons in 1842, when he was elected at an unopposed by-election as MP for Bute, and held that seat until 1859.

[4] He held office as Recorder of London from 1850 to 1856 and then as Solicitor-General for England under Lord Palmerston from November 1856 until May 1857.

He and his wife left their London home in Carlton House Terrace to live at East Sheen Lodge (which was renamed Wortley Lodge) near Mortlake until he became worse, forcing them to move back to London in 1869.

[6] They had four sons and five daughters:[citation needed] The photographs on this page are in The National Portrait Gallery and are listed as being JOHN Stuart-Wortley – 2nd Baron Wharncliffe (1801–1855)and his wife Georgina (née Ryder)