Boyle was the third but eldest surviving son and heir of John Boyle, 2nd Earl of Glasgow by Helenor, third daughter of William Morrison of Prestongrange, county Haddington. The Boyle family"s estates were centred on Kelburn in North Ayrshire.
Lord Glasgow was a captain in the 33rd Regiment of Foot, and took part in the Battle of Fontenoy on 30 April 1745 and the Battle of Lauffeld on 2 July 1747, being wounded on both occasions. He died on 7 March 1775 at Kelburn. She survived him, dying of apoplexy in London on 9 October 1791.
Their children included: John Boyle (born 26 March 1756), who died an infant George Boyle, 4th Earl of Glasgow.
