He held a variety of government and court positions including Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire 1721-1729,Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1727-1736,Lord Steward of the Household 1755-1761,and Master of the Horse 1761-1766.

In 1717 he married Bridget Sutton,a 17-year-old heiress,and the eldest of their sons was John Manners, Marquess of Granby.In 1722 he became a Knight of the Order of the Garter and in 1727 was sworn of the Privy Council.