Although he became the governor of domain as a result of returning lands and people to the emperor in 1869, Mitsusada died on May 12 in the following year at the age of 55, and his second son, Mitsunori, succeeded to his position.
明治2年（1869年）の版籍奉還で藩知事となるが、翌年4月12日に55歳で死去し、後を次男の光謙が継いだ。