The youngest son of George, 2nd Duke of Sutherland by his wife Lady Harriet Howard, daughter of George, Earl of Carlisle, he was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge [REF].
He was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Sutherland from 1867-1874, and was succeeded as MP by his nephew Cromartie, Marquess of Stafford (the elder surviving son of his eldest brother the 3rd Duke of Sutherland).