When Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey, the administrator of Transvaal was sent to Salisbury to replace Sir Leander Starr Jameson, Lawley was appointed the Acting administrator and later, served as Deputy administrator of Matabeleland from 1896 to 1898.
When Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey was sent to Salisbury to replace Sir Leander Starr Jameson, Lawley was appointed the Acting administrator representing the British South Africa Company. Later, he also served as Deputy administrator of Matabeleland from 1896 to 1898.