 Strickland was the second son of Sir William Strickland, 6th Baronet, of Boynton in Yorkshire, but his older brother died before him and he inherited the baronetcy on his father's death in 1834.Strickland inherited Boynton Hall and was Lord of the Manor of Wintringham.Strickland began his career in the law, being called to the Bar in 1810, and practised as a barrister on the Northern Circuit.