[2] He served as Governor of Dumbarton Castle from 1807 to 1810 and as Lieutenant of the Tower of London from 1810, and from 1821, Colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) until his death.

Three weeks later, Loftus, a cavalry Cornet, volunteered to dismount[5] for his first military action at Bunker Hill[6] overlooking the city, under the command of General Sir William Howe, who on this occasion, was pleased to give him the rank of Lieutenant.

[10] A few weeks later, Loftus had the honour of being selected with twenty picked light dragoons, as General Howe's personal guard at Pelham Manor.

The pass was defended, finally pushing the militia back in Kingsbridge in what was one of the heaviest defeats for the Americans in that war but Loftus was once again wounded, and withdrew to winter quarters, missing the action at The Battle of Trenton.

Loftus returned to active duty with Colonel Bird up the Hudson River to Peck's Hill in January 1777, where they blew up the American ammunitions stores.

[18] Loftus was removed to the Irish staff in 1797 at the request of Lord Camden[19] and appointed to be Commander in Chief in Munster based in Cork.

He reported back to Camden that the Catholics of Munster were in favour of "good order and government" and that if he wanted to root out sedition, he should look at "Dublin or the North".

[citation needed] Loftus married firstly on 18 February 1778, Margaret daughter of Maccerel King of Lesson Hall, Dublin.