Career
However, his principal importance was as a military commander: he was an aide-de-camp to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough in Flanders in 1704, and was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel in the 32nd Regiment of Foot in January 1706. On 12 April, he received a commission as the colonel of a new regiment of foot, part of the Irish army, and on 1 February 1707, he was appointed colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Dragoons (succeeding the late Lord Cutts), which embarked for Spain in 1708. In January 1709, he succeeded his father as Earl of Rochford, and was commissioned a brigadier general in January 1710.
Rochford was killed on 27 July 1710 at the Battle of Almenar while leading his regiment, aged 28.