In 1642 Francis Hawley 1st Baron Hawley (age 33) was appointed Commissioner of Array for Somerset.

In 1665 Francis Hawley 1st Baron Hawley (age 56) was elected MP Mitchell Cornwall which seat he held until 1673.

Pepy's Diary. 28 May 1665. Thence to my Lady Sandwich's (age 40), where, to my shame, I had not been a great while before. Here, upon my telling her a story of my [his grandson-in-law] Lord Rochester's (age 18) running away on Friday night last with [his granddaughter] Mrs. Mallett (age 14), the great beauty and fortune of the North, who had supped at White Hall with Mrs. Stewart (age 17), and was going home to her lodgings with her grandfather, my Lord Haly (age 57), by coach; and was at Charing Cross [Map] seized on by both horse and foot men, and forcibly taken from him, and put into a coach with six horses, and two women provided to receive her, and carried away. Upon immediate pursuit, my Lord of Rochester (for whom the King (age 34) had spoke to the lady often, but with no successe) was taken at Uxbridge; but the lady is not yet heard of, and the King mighty angry, and the Lord sent to the Tower [Map]. Hereupon my Lady did confess to me, as a great secret, her being concerned in this story. For if this match breaks between my Lord Rochester and her, then, by the consent of all her friends, my Lord Hinchingbrooke (age 17) stands fair, and is invited for her. She is worth, and will be at her [his daughter] mother's (age 35) death (who keeps but a little from her), £2500 per annum. Pray God give a good success to it! But my poor Lady, who is afeard of the sickness, and resolved to be gone into the country, is forced to stay in towne a day or two, or three about it, to see the event of it.

Evelyn's Diary. 21 Oct 1671. Next morning, in company with Sir Bernard Gascoyne (age 57), and Lord Hawley (age 63), I came in the Treasurer's coach to Bishop Stortford, where he gave us a noble supper. The following day, to London, and so home.

In 1672 Francis Hawley 1st Baron Hawley (age 63) was appointed Captain Deal Castle which position he held until 1674.