He succeeded his father to the baronetcy in 1906, and in 1911 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Glenconner, of The Glen in the County of Peebles.

[6][7] Between 1911 and 1914 he served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which duty he carried out "with dignity, tact and courtesy, making him notable among the line of holders".

[4] He was a frequent worshipper at St Columba's Church, London; he read the lesson on several occasions and interested himself in congregational affairs.

[8] In 1914 he presented to the Corporation of Glasgow 13 acres of land in the St Rollox district as a suitable recreation ground for that part of the city.

[4] In 1900 he purchased the estate of Wilsford near Salisbury, where he commissioned Detmar Blow to design a large mansion in the Tudor style, built in 1904–1906.

[11][4] In 1910 he remodelled his London house at 34 Queen Anne's Gate, including an art gallery to house his inherited art collection, and included a separate entrance for the public who were allowed to view the artworks on certain days of the week, which action was "widely appreciated and used".