In 1890, the British government sent Lord Lamington to travel between Tonkin in Vietnam and Siam, with a view to annexing at least the Xishuangbanna district and possibly the whole Yunnan province of China in an attempt to limit French colonisation of the area.

[4] He was a very politically conservative governor, and expressed a concern that the Federation of Australia which took place during his tenure would lead to unrestrained socialism.

He also worked with the first Premier of Queensland, Sir Samuel Griffith, to ensure that the role of state governors was not diminished after Federation.

In 1903 he was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire,[1] and appointed as Governor of Bombay (until his resignation in July 1907),[5][1] where the royal prerogative he exercised was far more powerful than it had been in Australia.

Lady Lamington's diary, her 'little pamphlet of memories',[4] held by the State Library of Queensland,[15] paints a detailed portrait of their life as public figures in the colonies.

[16] In May 2009, Australia Post commemorated Lord and Lady Lamington on a postage stamp as part of a series celebrating Australian deserts.