Born at Welwyn Rectory in Hertfordshire, he was the son of Sir Brooke Boothby, 9th Baronet.
[2] His mother was Martha Serena Boothby, the eldest daughter of Charles, in turn younger son of Sir William Bootby, 7th Baronet.
[3] Boothby was educated at Harrow School and joined the Diplomatic Service in 1881.
[10] Boothby was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Chile in 1907,[11] but did not proceed there to take up the post, owing to the state of his health.
[1] He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother Charles.