He was a godchild of George V of Hanover, Somerset became a Page of Honour to Queen Victoria in 1868, which he remained until 1874.

[2] He served as Under-Secretary of State for War in the Unionist Government headed by Lord Salisbury from 1900 to 1902.

[5] During his tenure as Lieutenant Governor he became the Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons in the Isle of Man from 1912 to 1919 and had the Lord Raglan Lodge No 3685 named in his honour.

Described as "autocratic" and "unpopular",[6] he opposed campaigns by Manx trade unions for direct taxation to fund an old-age pension and in 1918 ordered the removal of flour subsidies which increased the price of bread 15% above that in England.

Lady Raglan was a one-time President of the Monmouthshire branch of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families' Association, and died in 1940.