Member of Parliament (Conservative) for East Gloucestershire 1864-85 and for West Bristol 1885-1906; Secretary to the Poor Law Board 1868; Under Secretary to the Home Office 1868; Chief Secretary for Ireland 1874-78 and 1886-87; Privy Councillor [UK] 1874 and [I] 1874; Secretary of State for the Colonies 1878-80; Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire Freemasons 1880-1916; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1885-86 and 1895-1902; President of the Board of Trade 1888-92; Church Estates Commissioner 1892-95 and 1908; Independent Chairman of the South Wales Coal Trade Conciliation Board 1904-15; High Steward of the City of Gloucester