He served under Lord Melbourne as Patronage Secretary to the Treasury from 1835 to 1841, as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department in 1841 and as Paymaster General in 1841 and under Lord John Russell as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1846 and 1852.

[3] He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1841[4] and in 1848, two years before he succeeded to the barony of Stanley, he was created Baron Eddisbury, of Winnington[3] in the County Palatine of Chester.

Lord Stanley of Alderley married Henrietta Maria (21 December 1807 – 16 February 1895), a daughter of Viscount Dillon, in 1826.

A stained glass window in their memories was erected in 1860 at St Mary's Church, Nether Alderley.

[9] Lord Stanley of Alderley died in June 1869, aged 66, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Henry.