Rawson's force looted and burned the palace, exiled the Oba, and plundered a large number of the Benin Bronzes and other royal treasures.

[5] Admiral Rawson was appointed commander of British naval forces at the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in 1895[8] and held that post at the time of the Benin Expedition which was regarded in British circles largely as a stroke of disciplined and coordinated planning: In twenty-nine days a force of 1,200 men, coming from three places between 3000 and 4500 m. from the Benin river, was landed, organized, equipped and provided with transport.

In February 1902 Rawson was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first naval officer since William Bligh to hold the post.

[10] He kissed hands upon his appointment in an audience with King Edward VII on 24 March,[11] and left for Australia soon thereafter, arriving at Sydney on 26 May 1902 to take up the position the following day.

In March 1905 (during his term as Governor of New South Wales), his wife was in poor health and returned to England with her son Wyatt and a daughter to seek the best medical advice.

Rawson died, two days before his 67th birthday, on 3 November 1910 in London after an operation for appendicitis; he was survived by two sons and a daughter.

Rawsonville, a farming locality 25 km west of Dubbo is also named in his honour after a visit there in 1903 with the founding of the Anglican Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd.