Herbert entered the Army on 1 May 1722 with a commission as lieutenant in the
1st Troop of Life Guards.
In 1734 he was elected to Parliament for his
family's seat of
Wilton: he would represent the constituency for the rest of his life, supporting the Government. and on 27 January 1753 to that of the
2nd Dragoon Guards. He was promoted major-general in 1755. William Herbert was married before 1741 to Catherine Elizabeth Tewes, of
Aix-la-Chapelle. They had five children (three sons and two daughters), including
Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon. ==References==