William Savile, 2nd Marquess of Halifax, was the son of George Savile, 1st Viscount Halifax and Dorothy Savile, Viscountess Halifax. He was educated in Geneva in 1677 and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1681, but did not take a degree. He travelled on the continent in 1684–1687, returning on his brother's death. From that time, he was known as Lord Elland, from his father's subsidiary title of Baron Savile of Elland.