He was then appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Pendennis Castle and served until 1811.

He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar in 1727 remaining there until 1730.

He and resigned his senate seat in 1887, when he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

In 1819 Elphinstone was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Bombay, a post he held until 1827.

That same year, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Tangiers.

In 1908 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland.

In 1892 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle.

He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania in 1996.

In 1997, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.

For his lengthy and dedicated service, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1963.