 He went on to be Commanding Officer of his Regiment in 1843 and commanded it for 15 years.He was promoted to Major-General in 1868 and appointed Commander of British Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements in 1869.Whitfield Road (威非路道) in North Point and Whitfield Barracks in Tsim Sha Tsui, both in Hong Kong, were named after him.