Born at Compton Place, Eastbourne, Sussex, Liverpool was the eldest son and only surviving child of Cecil Foljambe, 1st Earl of Liverpool, by his first wife Louisa Howard, daughter of Frederick John Howard. On his mother"s side he descended from Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, the architect.
He was educated at Eton and the Sandhurst before joining the Rifle Brigade.
Foljambe served in the Second Boer War and was promoted to Captain. In July 1901 he was appointed an extra aide-de-camp to the Earl Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He retired from the army in 1906.
Liverpool succeeded his father in the earldom in 1907 and took his seat in the House of Lords on the Liberal benches.
In July 1909 he was appointed Comptroller of the Household in the Liberal administration of H. H. Asquith, a post he held until 1912. The latter year he was appointed Governor of New Zealand.
In 1917 the office was raised in dignity to that of Governor-General of New Zealand. The same year Liverpool was also admitted to the Privy Council.
His term was extended to cover the visit of the Prince of Wales.
During the First World War, Liverpool conferred his name upon a New Zealand infantry regiment. The New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool"s Own) was formed in 1915, served with the New Zealand Division during the war and was disbanded in 1919. Lord Liverpool married the Honorary
Annette Louise Monck, daughter of Henry Monck, 5th Viscount Monck, in 1897.
They had no children. He owned Hartsholme Hall from 1909 to 1939.
He died at his home Canwick Hall in May 1941, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his half-brother, Gerald Foljambe. The Countess of Liverpool died in May 1948, aged 73.
