He served as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1854 to 1873, a post previously held by his father.

Lady Hammond died in London on 14 June 1888, aged 72.

Lord Hammond survived her by two years and died in April 1890, aged 87.

[1] There is a marble bust of Lord Hammond by Henry Weekes at the Foreign Office, London.

[5][6] Lord Hammond and his wife are buried at St John the Baptist's Church, Old Malden.