He was the eldest surviving son of John Chambre Brabazon, 10th Earl of Meath and Lady Melosina Adelaide Meade, daughter of John Meade, 1st Earl of Clanwilliam and Theodosia Hawkins-Magill He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford.
He was known as Lord Brabazon between 1826 and 1851, after which he succeeded his father as the 11th Earl of Meath and the 2nd Baronet Chaworth.
He married in 1837 Harriot, the daughter of Sir Richard Brooke, 6th Baronet, of Norton Priory, Cheshire and Harriot Cuniffe, with whom he had two sons, Jacques, who died young, and Reginald, and a daughter Kathleen, who died unmarried.
The family lived at Kilruddery House, in Bray, County Wicklow, which is still the seat of the Earls of Meath.
On his death in 1887 he was succeeded by his surviving son Reginald Brabazon, 12th Earl of Meath, a career diplomat.