“ A Liberal in politics, he became private secretary to Lord Granville when secretary of state for foreign affairs (1883–1884) , and in 1886 was made a lord-in-waiting. In the Liberal administration of 1892–1895 he was lord-lieutenant for Ireland, having Mr John Morley as chief secretary. In 1895 he was created 1st earl of Crewe, his maternal grandfather, the 2nd Baron Crewe, having left him his heir. In 1899 he married Lady Margaret Primrose, daughter of the 5th earl of Rosebery. In 1905 he became lord president of the council in the Liberal government ”