 Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-general on 25 June 1866 and to full general on 28 March 1874, he became the Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1875; in this capacity his social skills and ample means made him very popular.He returned from Ireland on 1 October 1880.He also became colonel of the 86th Regiment of Foot (later the 2nd Battalion the Royal Irish Rifles).