He was knighted and promoted to major-general; he also received decorations from the Russian and Prussian courts. Charged with the duties of quartermaster-general of the army in the Netherlands in 1814–1815, he was about to take part in the Belgian campaign when he was offered the command of the British troops at Genoa; but while still in the south of France he received (on 1 August 1815) news of his appointment to the position of custodian of Napoleon, Emperor of the French, who had surrendered to HMS "Bellerophon" off Rochefort. Lowe was to be Governor of Saint Helena, the place of the former Emperor's exile.