Lord Harlech was the eldest son of William Ormsby-Gore, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, and Mary Jane Ormsby.
He was elected to the House of Commons for Carnarvonshire in 1837, a seat he held until 1841, and later represented North Shropshire from 1859 to 1876.
[1][2] Lord Harlech married Sarah, daughter of Sir John Tyrell, 2nd Baronet, on 4 June 1844.
They had one child: Lord Harlech died on 15 June 1876, aged 60, having held the title for only five months.
[3] As he had no son, he was succeeded according to the special remainder by his brother William.