[citation needed] On 9 February 1844 he was appointed colonial secretary at Hong Kong,[4] and accompanied its second governor John Francis Davis on HMS Spiteful arriving there on 8 May of that year.

[7] On his brother, Lord Elgin, being appointed ambassador extraordinary to China, he accompanied him as principal secretary in April 1857.

[citation needed] His diplomatic tact was thoroughly appreciated by the home government, for he was appointed on 2 December 1858 envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Xianfeng Emperor of China,[8] and on 1 March following chief superintendent of British trade in that country.

He proceeded to Peking on 7 November 1860 but withdrew to Tientsin for the winter, while arrangements were made for putting a residence in order for his reception.

[citation needed] He died, unmarried, at Boston in the United States on 19 September 1867, when his remains were embalmed and, being conveyed to Scotland, were interred at Dunfermline Abbey on 8 October.