As a politician, he became Member of Parliament for Wick and later for Ripon. He was sent to the Mediterranean in July 1878 to take control of Cyprus and to occupy it in accordance with decisions reached at the Congress of Berlin. In a highly political appointment, he was made First Naval Lord in March 1886 when the Marquis of Ripon became First Lord of the Admiralty but had to stand down just five months later when William Gladstone's Liberal government fell from power in August 1886.
As a politician, he held positions as Member of Parliament for Wick and then for Ripon. In July 1878, he was assigned to the Mediterranean to control Cyprus based on decisions from the Congress of Berlin. He was appointed First Naval Lord in March 1886 when Marquis of Ripon became First Lord of the Admiralty but had to resign five months later due to William Gladstone's Liberal government losing power.