Baring was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Thetford at a by-election in December 1857, filling the vacancy caused by his father's succession to the peerage.[7] He was re-elected in 1859 and 1865, and held the seat until he succeeded to the peerage in 1868 on the death of his father.[7]
On 16 June 1864, Baring was appointed to be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk.[8] A member of the Baring family, he succeeded to the title of Baron Ashburton on 6 September 1868.[2]
Lilian Theresa Clare Baring (1874–1962), who married Lt.-Col. Frederick Loch Adams, Military Secretary to the Viceroy of India and youngest son of William Patrick Adam, in 1906.[2]
Caryl Digby Baring (1880–1956), who served in the Boer War and the Great War and married Ivy Firman, a sister of Humphrey Firman and daughter of Humphrey Brooke Firman, in 1907.[2]
He was an art collector and owned many prominent pieces, including Rembrandt's 1660 self portrait, Aelbert Cuyp's Horsemen and Herdsmen with Cattle (1655/1660), and Meindert Hobbema's Hut among Trees (c. 1664).[10][11] Known affectionately as 'Aclick' to members of his family, he was also a keen yachtsman and embarked on many overseas tours including Scandinavia and the Caribbean. It was returning from such a trip that led to his final demise, after catching a sickness, whilst in Hong Kong from which he never seemed to fully recover. Shortly after, whilst in Chicago, his physician was very concerned for his health however, he made good improvements and was expected to fully recover before dying suddenly shortly after returning to England.
Lord Ashburton died at Bath House, Piccadilly, in London, and was succeeded in his title by his eldest son Francis. His widow died on 19 August 1930.[2]
^University of Oxford (1888). Abbay-Dyson. Parker and Company. p. 59.
^ abCraig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 305–306. ISBN0-900178-26-4.