 He was born in 1939, the son of Major John Edward Hamilton Tollemache, 4th Baron Tollemache (1910–1975) by his wife Dinah ("née" Jamieson).Educated at Eton College, he served as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk  from 2003–14.He served previously as Vice-Lieutenant of Suffolk since 1994 and was Deputy Lieutenant before that, since 1984.