In 1811 he was appointed aide-de-camp to the prince-regent, but offered his resignation in 1812 in the belief that he could not hold the post while opposing the government.
[1] He continued to support the Liverpool government for some years, but distanced himself from them in 1822 after his request for his father to be made a marquess was declined.
In the 1830s, he voted against the English reform bills, and stood as an anti-reform Tory in the 1831 general election.
The following year, he was a founder of the conservative Carlton Club, and in the 1832 general election was defeated in Longford for the first time in his career.
[3] The following year, his eldest son George succeeded to the family title as Earl of Granard.