 He was President of the UK Chamber of Shipping for 1902.Having been knighted in 1902, he was created Baronet of Preston Hall, Stockton-on-Tees, in the County Palatine of Durham, and of Skutterskelfe Hall, Hutton Rudby, in the North Riding of York on 20 August 1904.Ropner died 26 February 1924, aged 85, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son John.