He was appointed feudal lord (daimyo) of Sagara domain with a fief of 57,000 koku of rice, also served as a senior councilor (roju) and was given 10 additional fiefs; in other words, he was promoted from a shogunate direct retainer (hatamoto) with a fief of 600 koku to a feudal lord (daimyo) with a fief of 57,000 koku, and was the first person to be promoted from a shogunate chamberlain (sobayonin) to a senior councilor (roju).
安永元年（1772年）、相良藩5万7,000石の大名に取り立てられ、老中を兼任し、前後10回の加増で僅か600石の旗本から5万7,000石の大名にまで昇進し、側用人から老中になった初めての人物となった。