Wombwell was born on 13 April 1792. He was the eldest son of
Sir George Wombwell, 2nd Baronet and Lady Anne Belasyse. After his mother's death in 1808, his father married Eliza Little, daughter of T. E. Little. From his parents' marriage, he had a younger brother, Henry Walter Wombwell, who died unmarried. From his father's second marriage, he had a half-sister, Louisa ( Wombwell) Beauclerk (best known for her lengthy relationship with
Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, grandson of King
George III and cousin of
Queen Victoria), and a half-brother, Charles Orby Wombwell (who married his wife's sister, Charlotte Catherine Hunter, in 1836). His paternal grandparents were
Sir George Wombwell, 1st Baronet and Susannah Rawlinson (a daughter of
Sir Thomas Rawlinson). His maternal grandparents were
Henry Belasyse, 2nd Earl Fauconberg of
Newborough, Yorkshire, and the former Hon. Charlotte Lamb (daughter of
Sir Matthew Lamb, 1st Baronet and sister of
Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne). His aunt, Lady Elizabeth Belasyse, was married to
Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk. ==Career==