Lumsden's next period of active service was as quartermaster general on the staff of General Napier, who commanded the 2nd division of the expeditionary force to China during the Second Opium War, in 1860.
Lumsden took part in the operations of the Anglo-French forces, including the action of Sin-ho, the capture of Tang-ku and the capture of the Taku Forts that led up to the advance on and occupation of Beijing.
He was again mentioned in despatches and promoted to brevet-Major and then brevet-lieutenant-colonel.

The final spell of active service in Lumsden's military career was in the Bhutan War of 1865: his later employment was on the staff and in political posts.
He was deputy quartermaster general from 1864 to 1868, and quartermaster general of the Indian Army from 1868 to 1873.
He was Acting Resident in Hyderabad, 1873, and Adjutant-General, India from 1874 to 1879, when he was appointed Chief of the Staff in India.
He also served for eleven years as an aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.
Lumsden's next period of active service was as quartermaster general on the staff of General Napier, who commanded the 2nd division of the expeditionary force to China during the Second Opium War, in 1860. Lumsden took part in the operations of the Anglo-French forces, including the action of Sin-ho, the capture of Tang-ku and the capture of the Taku Forts that led up to the advance on and occupation of Beijing. He was again mentioned in despatches and promoted to brevet-Major and then brevet-lieutenant-colonel.
The final spell of active service in Lumsden's military career was in the Bhutan War of 1865: his later employment was on the staff and in political posts. He was deputy quartermaster general from 1864 to 1868, and quartermaster general of the Indian Army from 1868 to 1873. He was Acting Resident in Hyderabad, 1873, and Adjutant-General, India from 1874 to 1879, when he was appointed Chief of the Staff in India. He also served for eleven years as an aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.
Peter Lumsden