Born the son of Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto and Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (née Brydone), Elliot joined the Royal Navy in May 1832 [REF].
Elliott became commodore on the East Indies and China Station, with his broad pennant in the screw gunboat HMS Haughty, in January 1855 [REF].