[3][4] Like his father, maternal grandfather, half-brother, and brother-in-law, Wingfield-Baker served as a Member of Parliament.
After his father's second marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of William Mills of Bisterne, Hampshire, Wingfield-Baker there were several half-siblings including:Charles John Wingfield Member of Parliament for Gravesend, William-Wriothesley-Digby (Vicar of Gulval), Frederick, Henry, Kenelm-Digby, and Julia.
[3][11][12] His military service was with the 2nd Essex Volunteer Artillery, being promoted captain on 13 September 1860.
Upon his (fathers) death – in 1827, William Wingfield inherited the John Baker title.
Upon the death of Richard Baker's widow in 1849, the remainder of the estate, including the Orsett title,[15] also passed to William Wingfield who, in the same year, legally changed his surname to Wingfield-Baker by Royal licensure.