Tufton was the eldest son of John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet, and Lady Margaret, daughter of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset and Lady Anne Clifford.
He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1655 and again from 1656 to 1658, for allegedly conspiring to capture Charles II.
This barony conferred the honour of hereditary High Sheriff of Westmorland.
[citation needed] Lord Thanet married Lady Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Boyle, 2nd Earl of Cork, on 11 April 1664.
He died in November 1679, aged 48, and was succeeded in the earldom by his younger brother, John.