Born the son of Vice-Admiral Sir John White, White was commissioned into the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and purchased a captaincy in his regiment in 1844. He became commanding officer of his regiment in May 1854 and led a squadron of his men at the Charge of the Heavy Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava in October 1854. His helmet was pierced by a Russian sabre during the charge. White served as colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) from 1873 to 1874 and as colonel of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons from 1874 until his death in 1886.