Ribblesdale was the eldest son of Thomas Lister, 3rd Baron Ribblesdale, and his wife Adelaide (née Lister), and succeeded his father in the barony in 1876.
Ribblesdale was the eldest son of Thomas Lister, 3rd Baron Ribblesdale, and his wife Emma (née Mure) daughter of Rt.Hon. William Mure M.P., and succeeded his father in the barony in 1876.