Richard was born at Haveringland Hall in Norfolk, the third son of William Henry Fellowes of Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire and his wife, Emma, sister of Richard Benyon De Beauvoir of Englefield House in Berkshire.
He inherited this latter property (16,000 acres, worth 20,004 guineas rental per annum)[1] and its associated estates upon his uncle's death in 1854 and changed his name to Benyon.
Educated at Charterhouse and St. John's College, Cambridge, he was a member of Boodle's, Carlton and Conservative London clubs.
[1] In 1857, he was appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire, and was the Chairman of the County's Quarter Sessions in 1864.
By his wife, Elizabeth Mary Clutterbuck, he had three daughters, and upon his death in 1897, his estates were inherited by his nephew, James Herbert Benyon.