Born into the baronial Vincke family, he was born as the son of Franz Friedrich Ernst August von Vincke (1798-1866) by his wife, Bertha Ganzer (1808-1893).

He was a cousin of liberal politician Georg von Vincke.

He served in the Prussian Army from 1817, from 1829 in the general staff, from 1832 in the rank of captain in VI.

He left the active service in 1843, but remained in the army until 1850, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.

From 1843, he began to participate in politics on the liberal party even while maintaining a personal friendship with William I, German Emperor, facilitating both his escape into exile following the March Revolution of 1848, and his return later in June of the same year.