[4][5] When the Liberals came to power under William Ewart Gladstone in February 1886, Heneage was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[6] and vice-president of the Committee of Agriculture and sworn of the Privy Council.

[7] However, he resigned these offices in April after disagreeing with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule.

Heneage lost his Grimsby seat at the 1892 general election, but was successfully returned for the same constituency in a by-election the following year.

[citation needed] In June 1896 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Heneage, of Hainton in the County of Lincoln.

[10] Apart from his political career Heneage served as vice-chairman of Lindsey Quarter Sessions and as High Steward of Grimsby.