He was educated at Sandroyd School then Charterhouse School. He succeeded as fourth Baron Derwent on the death of his elder brother in 1949 and was able to take a seat in the House of Lords. In September 1962, Derwent was appointed Minister of State for Trade in the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan, and when Sir Alec Douglas-Home became Prime Minister in October 1963 he was promoted to Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Derwent attended Sandroyd School and Charterhouse School before inheriting the title of fourth Baron Derwent upon his brother's death in 1949. He entered the House of Lords and later became a member of Parliament. In September 1962, he was appointed Minister of State for Trade under Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, and when Sir Alec Douglas-Home took office in October 1963, he was promoted to Minister of State for Home Affairs.