Durham was the eldest twin son of George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham and his wife Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn.

He inherited the earldom and its subsidiary titles on 27 November 1879 upon the death of his father.

The marriage was childless and Lady Durham was committed to a mental institution for most of her adult life.

In 1892 Lord Durham had a son, John R H Rudge, out of wedlock with the actress and dancer Letitia Elizabeth Rudge, known professionally as Letty Lind, whom he could not marry because his wife's illness prevented a divorce.

[6] Lord Durham died in September 1928, at the age of 73, and was succeeded in the earldom and other titles by his younger twin brother, Frederick.