He was born in Ireland to Matthew Lough and Martha Steel of Cavan, and was educated at the Royal School, Cavan and at Wesleyan Connexional School, Dublin.

He worked as a tea merchant in London from 1880. He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Truro at the 1886 general election and was Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington West from 1892 until 1918. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education from 1905 until 1908.

He was Lord Lieutenant of Cavan from 1907 until his death, and was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1908.

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