He inherited Honingham Hall in Norfolk from his aunt in 1887 and devoted much of his time to running and improving it.

In March 1905 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed President of the Board of Agriculture[3] by Balfour, with a seat in the cabinet, a post he held until the government fell in December 1905.

In the 1921 Birthday Honours he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ailwyn, of Honingham in the County of Norfolk.

Lord Ailwyn married Agatha Eleanor Augusta,[6] daughter of Hedworth Jolliffe, 2nd Baron Hylton, at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, on 9 February 1886.

They had four sons: Lord Ailwyn died at Honingham Hall in September 1924, aged 68, and was buried in the grounds of the local church.