John was born about 1192, the son of Roger de Lacy and Maud de Clere. He took possession of his inheritance in July 1213, when he is described as constable of Chester. In 1213-1214 he was with King John in Poitou, but in 1215 he joined the confederate barons as one of the 25 magnates appointed to enforce the observance of Magna Carta, and in the same year he committed to go on crusade. At the end of the year he made peace with the king, but next summer was again in rebellion, and King John destroyed his castle at Donington.
John married his first wife Alice, daughter of Gilbert de L'Aigle, but she died childless and was buried at Norton. In 1217 he was pardoned by Henry III, and in November of that year he was commissioned to conduct Alexander II, king of Scots to Henry. Next year he accompanied Ranulfe de Blundeville, 7th earl of Chester, on crusade, and fought at the siege of Damietta. He returned about August 1220 and in February 1221 he took part in the reduction of Skipton Castle in Yorkshire.
Before 21 June 1221 John married Margaret, daughter of Robert de Quincy and Hawise of Chester, countess of Lincoln. They had a daughter Maud and son Edmund who would have progeny. In 1226 John was a judge, and in 1227 he was on a mission to Antwerp. In 1229 he was appointed to conduct the king of Scots to meet Henry III at York. From 1230 he was at court, and in that year he was a commissioner to treat for a truce with France. Next year he was in Wales on the king's service. In 1232 he took a prominent part as the king's commissioner in the proceedings against Hubert de Burgh, 1st earl of Kent, sat as a judge in Cornhill to hear complaints against him, and finally, early in the following year, was one of Hubert's keepers at Devizes Castle. However Hubert escaped and joined the rebellion of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke in 1233.
On 22 November 1232, at the insistence of John's mother-in-law Hawise of Chester, the king granted John the 20 pounds per year which her brother Ranulfe de Blundeville, late earl of Chester and Lincoln, had received as earl of Lincoln. The earl had in his lifetime granted this sum to Hawise, to hold _in nomine comitis Lincolnie_ for John and his heirs by Margaret.
In 1233 John joined the party opposed to the bishop of Winchester, Piers des Roches, but the bishop won him over, and from that time he acted with the court, becoming one of the king's unpopular councillors. He was a justice in Lincolnshire in 1234. At the coronation of the queen in 1236 he carried one of the swords of state.
In 1237 John was a plenipotentiary to make peace with Scotland. He was sheriff of Chester from 1237 to 1240. He was a benefactor to the Benedictine abbey of Stanlaw and other religious houses. He died on 22 July 1240, after a long illness, and was buried near his father in the monks' choir at Stanlaw, his body being removed later to Whalley.
Little is known about Hugh before his marriage to a great heiress. On 28 April 1317 at Windsor Hugh married Margaret, widow of Piers Gaveston and niece of King Edward II. She surrendered her dower lands before the marriage, and the king restored them on 13 May 1317. On 22 May the king took the homage of Hugh and his wife Margaret, and on 20 November 1318 they had charters for markets and fairs at several of their manors.
Doubtless in consequence of his marriage, Hugh was summoned to attend Parliament from 30 November 1317 to 15 May 1321, by writs addressed to _Hugoni Daudele juniori_, and from 3 December 1326 to 24 August 1336 by writs addressed to _Hugoni de Audele_, suggesting that he had become Lord Audley. He and Margaret were sheriffs of Rutland from 1317 to 1321 and 1327 to 1347. In July 1318 he attended the king in Parliament at Northampton, and he accompanied him to Scotland in July 1319. Hugh de Audley, Hugh Le Despenser and Roger Damory were called _vices comites_ of Gloucester as they had married three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 3rd earl of Gloucester. Soon after this he quarrelled with the Despensers and joined the earl of Lancaster against them.
On 30 March 1321 he was ordered to join the king at Gloucester before 6 April to show cause why his lands should not be taken into the king's hands. It was alleged that he had frequently disobeyed the king's orders to come to him. He apparently refused to go, for his lands were seized, and Tonbridge Castle was attacked, and after some resistance he had to surrender. He was now in open rebellion, and in July he brought a force to St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield, where he joined with other barons, led by the earl of Hereford, who were determined to procure the destruction of the Despensers.
On 17 March 1322 he fought at Boroughbridge on the side of the earl of Lancaster, and was taken prisoner. On 2 May 1322 his wife Margaret was sent to the prior of Sempringham, who was ordered to keep her safely and not allow her to leave. In 1325 Hugh was imprisoned at Berkhampstead, then taken to Nottingham Castle, from where he escaped.
After the execution of the Despensers and the deposition of the king he was summoned to Parliament again on 3 December 1326 and on 22 February 1327. On 6 March 1327 his forfeiture was annulled by Parliament, and Oakham and other lands were returned to him and his wife. On 16 March 1337, at the request of the assembled prelates, nobles and commons in Parliament, he was created earl of Gloucester. His wife Margaret died on 9 April 1342; Hugh died on 10 November 1347 and was buried at Tonbridge Priory.