In 1879, Acland was promoted to the rank of Commander. In May 1883 he received command of the sloop HMS Miranda on the Australian Station.
In January 1885 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.[3]Miranda was engaged in anti-blackbirding operations in the south-west Pacific. She visited many of the Ellice Islands in 1886.[3]
Acland was appointed second in command of the Channel Squadron from early June 1901,[4] and hoisted his flag on board the pre-dreadnought battleshipHMS Magnificent on 5 June 1901.[5] After a year he was relieved of the command in the Channel Squadron, and struck his flag on the Magnificent on 5 June 1902.[6]
Four months later, he was appointed Admiral Superintendent of the Gibraltar Dockyard,[7] and was received in audience by King Edward VII on 21 October 1902,[8] before taking up the position later the same month when he hoisted his flag at the receiving ship HMS Cormorant on 30 October.[9] He lived at the official residence The Mount at Gibraltar, whilst he held the office of Admiral Superintendent from 1902 to 1904. He was promoted to vice-admiral on 15 March 1904,[10] and left Gibraltar three months later. He was promoted to Admiral in 1908. He was placed on the Retired List on 17 July 1911.[3]
William Acland married Hon. Emily Anna Smith, daughter of the Rt. Hon. William Henry Smith and Emily Danvers, Viscountess Hambleden, on 7 July 1887, and had the following children:
Acland succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet Acland, of St Mary Magdalen, Oxford on the latter's death on 16 October 1900. On his death in 1924, he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son.
