 When his father was made the Earl of Arran in 1762, he assumed the courtesy title of Viscount Sudley for himself.He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Donegal Borough in 1759, a seat he held until 1761 and again from 1768 to 1774 and also represented Wexford County between 1761 and 1768.In 1773, he succeeded his father as second Earl of Arran and entered the Irish House of Lords.