Lord Strafford was also First Civil Service Commissioner from 1880 to 1888 and Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex from 1884 to 1888. When the first Middlesex County Council was formed in 1889, he was chosen as a County Alderman, serving until 1895. Throughout his political career, he served with the Middlesex Militia. He was the first President of Middlesex County Cricket Club serving twice between 1866 and 1876 and 1877 and 1898. In 1886, he succeeded his father in the earldom of Strafford.