Charles Edmund Law was born on 17 Nov 1820, the son of Hon Charles Ewan Law and grandson of the 1st Lord Ellenborough. His mother was Elizabeth Sophia Nightingale. He assumed the name Towry-Law in 1885 from his grandmother Anne Towry, and inherited the title 3rd Baron Ellenborough from his uncle Edward on 22 Dec 1871.
Charles was married four times: 23 Nov 1840 Lady Eleanor Cecil Howard, daughter of 4th earl of Wicklow. She died 15 June 1852.
28 June 1855 Anna Elizabeth Day, daughter of Rev John Fitzgerald Day. They had a son, Charles Towry Hamilton (1856-1902). She died 29 Feb 1860.
26 Aug 1863 Isabella Ogilby, daughter of Alexander Ogilby. They had two children; Gertrude Edith Towry-Law (1869-1895) and Emily Julia Towry-Law (1872-1926). Isabella died 22 April 1874.
1 Dec 1874 Beatrice Joanna Knatchbull, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Edward Knatchbull 9th Bt. She died 17 May 1932.
Charles joined the 9th Lancers as a cornet on 2 Feb 1844, at the age of 24. The portrait is a watercolour showing him in the dress uniform of the 9th Lancers c1846. He proudly shows off his Sutlej Medal for being at Sobraon in the First Sikh War of 1845-46. He transferred to the 57th Regiment of Foot as a lieutenant on 8 May 1846, and was promoted to captain on 26 Dec 1851. He left the 57th at some point in the 1850s and eventually reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edmund Towry-Law, 3rd Lord Ellenborough died on 9 Oct 1890.
