Anson was elected to the House of Commons for Great Yarmouth in June 1818, but had to resign the seat already the following month on the death of his father and his succession to viscountcy of Anson. Anson later served under Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne as Master of the Buckhounds from 1830 to 1834 and under Melbourne as Postmaster General from 1835 to 1841. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 1830 and in 1831 he was created Earl of Lichfield, of Lichfield in the County of Stafford, in William IV's coronation honours.
Gambling
Anson was also known for his excessive gambling and lavish entertaining at his Shugborough Hall seat. He also purchased the estate at nearby Ranton, Staffordshire, where he built Abbey House and developed the estate into a great sporting centre. However, his extravagant lifestyle and gambling put him and the family into debts of £600,000 and led to Anson's financial collapse in 1842. The entire contents of Shugborough Hall were sold off to pay for the debts. Abbey House at Ranton burned down in 1942. The ivy-covered ruins can still be seen.
Family
Lord Lichfield married Louisa Catherine, daughter of Nathaniel Philips, in 1819. They had four sons and four daughters. His second son the Honourable Augustus Anson was a soldier who received the Victoria Cross, and his fourth son the Right Reverend the Honourable Adelbert John Robert Anson was a clergyman who served as Bishop of Qu'Apelle in Canada. Lord Lichfield died in March 1854, aged 58, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son Thomas. Lady Lichfield died in August 1879. Lord Lichfield is buried at St Michael and All Angels Church in Colwich, a short distance from Shugborough Hall. CHILDREN: SONS 1. Hon Thomas George Anson, later 2nd Earl of Lichfield 2. Hon William Victor Leopold Horatio Anson 3. Lt Col Hon Augustus Henry Archibald Anson VC, Member of Parliament for Lichfield 1859-68, mar. 1 Dec 1863 Amelia Maria Claughton, sister of Sir Gilbert Henry Claughton, 1st Baronet, and 1st dau. of Rt Rev Thomas Legh Claughton DD, Bishop of St Albans, by his wife Hon Julia Susanna Ward, 1st dau. of William Humble , 10th Baron Ward 4. Rt Rev Hon Adelbert John Robert Anson DD, Bishop of Qu'Appelle, Canada DAUGHTERS 1. Lady Louisa Mary Ann Anson, mar. 26 Nov 1838 Lt Col Edward King-Tenison, of Kilronan Castle, co. Roscommon, and had issue 2. Lady Anne Frederica Anson, mar. 29 Aug 1843 as his first wife Francis Richard , 8th Earl of Wemyss, and had issue 3. Lady Harriet Frances Maria Anson, mar. 7 Jun 1851 Augustus Henry , 6th Baron Vernon, and had issue 4. Lady Gwendoline Isabella Anna Maria Anson, mar. 19 Apr 1865 Nicholas Power O'Shee, of Gardenmorris, co.Waterford, and had issue
