Carlisle was the third but eldest surviving son of Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, and his wife Lady Anne, daughter of Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex. He was elected to the House of Commons for Morpeth in 1715, a seat he held until 1738 when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords.
He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.
In 1756 he was made a Knight of the Garter. Lord Carlisle married firstly Lady Frances, daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, in 1717. Charles Howard, Viscount Morpeth (1719–1741)
Honorary
Henry Howard, died young
Robert Howard, Viscount Morpeth (1724–1743)
Lady Arabella Howard (d 1746), married on 14 September 1741 Jonathan Cope, eldest son of Sir Jonathan Cope, 1st Baronet, without issue
Lady Diana Howard (d 18 March 1770), married Thomas Duncombe
Lady Frances died in 1742 and Lord Carlisle married secondly the Honorary
Isabella, daughter of William Byron, 4th Baron Byron, in 1743. She was a grand-aunt of Lord Byron.
Lady Anne Howard (1744 – 13 October 1799)
Lady Frances Howard (1745 – 27 April 1808), married John Radcliffe
Lady Elizabeth Howard (1747 – June 1813), married Peter Delmé, then Captain Charles Garnier
Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle (1748–1825)
Lady Juliana Howard (6 July 1750 – 22 January 1849).
