 He was elected Member of Parliament for Haslemere from 1776 to 1780 and for Boston from 1782 to 1796.He married in 1779, Lady Priscilla Barbara Elizabeth Bertie, the daughter of Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven.She succeeded to a large part of the Ancaster estates in 1779, to the barony of Willoughby of Eresby in 1780 and to the hereditary office of Lord Great Chamberlain.