[1] Alford was born at Hill Street at Berkeley Square, Mayfair,[2] the eldest son of John Cust, 2nd Baron Brownlow by his first wife, Sophia Hume.

[1] In 1849, two years before his death, Alford assumed by Royal licence the surname of Egerton in lieu of his patronymic, on succeeding to the huge Bridgwater estates through his mother.

[3] According to his obituary, Lord Alford "displayed the warmest regard for the welfare of his tenantry, and expended a considerable sum in providing schools for the education of the children of the poorer classes, and the needy have lost a liberal benefactor.

His father-in-law the Marquess of Northampton, brother-in-law Earl Compton, and other family members had gathered at Ashridge when he died.

[1] His eldest son, John, succeeded his grandfather in the earldom of Brownlow in 1853, but died in Italy, aged 24.