 He was appointed First Sea Lord in July 1927 and, in that role, in order to avoid an arms race, he accepted parity with the United States in the form of 50 cruisers defending his position on the basis that he only actually had 48 cruisers anyway.He retired in July 1930 and died at 29 Wimpole Street in London on 5 June 1935.On 28 June 1905 Madden married Constance Winifred, third and youngest daughter of Sir Charles Cayzer, 1st Baronet, and sister of Countess Jellicoe; and they had two sons (Charles and John) and four daughters (Conn, Joan, Hope and Mary).