 Although he stood down from the school board at the election in 1873, he returned to serve a three-year term from 187679 and he served a further term 18851889.He was a Sheriff of London and Middlesex in 1871 and a Lord Lieutenant of the City of London, and was knighted as part of the celebrations for the recovery of the Prince of Wales from typhoid in the same year.In 1877 he was elected the alderman for Cheap ward, winning by a single vote.