He was born in London on July 9th, 1845 into a family long identified with public service. He received his education at Eton and Cambridge but decided on a military career and joined the Cots Fusiliers Guards in 1867. He saw service in the Russo-Turkish war in 1877, the Afghan war in 1879 and in Egypt in 1882.

An ardent horseman, he rode in the Grand National for times and in 1874, won the French Grand National.

His appointment as Governor General in 1898 meant a return to familiar surroundings. He had served at Rideau Hall as Military Secretary to Lord Lansdowne, helped to raise the Canadian contingent of woodsmen and voyageurs for the Sudan in 1884 and in 1885 was Aide-de-Camp to General Middleton in the expedition to suppress the Riel Rebellion in Manitoba.

Many significant events occurred during his term such as the South African War, the death of Queen Victoria, and the Canadian Tour of the Duke and Duchess of York (later king George V and Queen Mary), during which the royal guests were escorted everywhere by Lord and Lady Minto. In 1902, Lord Minto led a great Canadian contingent of politicians and military personnel to Edward VII's coronation.

When Minto first left Canada in 1885, Sir John A. Macdonald forecast that he would return someday as Governor General. When he left in 1904, Sir Wilfred Laurier commented that he came to office untrained in constitutional practice but "became an efficient Governor, if sometimes very stiff."

Their excellencies founded the Minto Skating Club in Ottawa, which is still active today and which has produced one world champion, Barbara Ann Scott.