Background
He was born at Apsley Hall, Nottingham, the eldest son of Henry Willoughby (15 December 1780-1849) and Charlotte Eyre (died 1845) and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.
He was born at Apsley Hall, Nottingham, the eldest son of Henry Willoughby (15 December 1780-1849) and Charlotte Eyre (died 1845) and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Eton College.
He lived in the Willoughby family seat at Birdsall House, which he preferred to Wollaton Park, Nottinghamshire. Julia Louisa Bosville (5 April 1824 York–11 October 1901 Settrington), granddaughter of the 3rd Baron Macdonald of Slate and descendant of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, on 3 August 1843 in London and had 13 children:
Digby Wentworth Bayard Willoughby, 9th Baron Middleton (1844–1922)
Honorary Alexandrina Henrietta Matilda Willoughby (c 1845 – 11 December 1931), married on 3 February 1869 Sir John Thorold 12th Thorold Baronet
Godfrey Ernest Percival Willoughby, 10th Baron Middleton (1847–1924)
Honorary
Francis Henry Stirling Willoughby (13 August 1848 – 23 June 1900)
Honorary
Rothwell James Bosville Willoughby (26 May 1850–1867)
Honorary Leopold Vincent Harold Willoughby (19 November 1851 – 22 March 1924)
Honorary
Hylda Maria Madeline Willoughby (c1853 – 9 February 1944), married on 20 April 1882 William Henry Garforth (d 1931) in 1882
Honorary Lettice Hermione Violet Willoughby (c 1854 - 9 August 1922), married on 18 April 1895 Colonel
William Gordon-Cumming (d 1908)
Honorary
Leila Louisa Millicent Willoughby (c 1856 – 24 February 1886), married on 10 February 1876 Review Henry Charles Russell (d 1922)
Honorary Mairi Myrtle Willoughby (c 1858 - 13 November 1900), married on 1 January 1880 William Bethell (d 1926)
Honorary
Tatton Lane Fox Willoughby (29 December 1860 – 10 July 1947), married on 18 June 1898 Esther Ann Strickland (d 1940), daughter of Sir Charles Strickland, 8th Baronet
Colonel
Honorary Claude Henry Comaraich Willoughby (1862–1932), married in 1904 Sibyl Louise Murray (d 1957)
Honorary Alexander Hugh Willoughby (18 September 1863 – 5 December 1927), married in 1889 Mary Selina Honoria Macdonald (d 1925).