He saw his first active duty during the Gordon Riots in June 1780 before commanding the 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards at key battles of the Flanders Campaign during the French Revolutionary Wars.

He later took part in the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland and then returned to England to become General Officer Commanding South East District.

[3] Promoted to major-general on 18 October 1793,[9] he commanded the 1st Guards Brigade at the Battle of Willems in May 1794 and then joined the retreat into Germany later that year.

[17] He also became Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in February 1820[18] and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household of King George IV[19] as well as a member of the Privy Council in May 1827.

[24] He died at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on 1 January 1837 and was buried in the family vault at St Michael and All Angels Churchyard at Wilmington in Kent.