Born in Pathhead, near Enzie in Banffshire, Scotland in March 1766, he entered Scalan and then the Scots College Douai and was ordained a priest in about 1791.
[1] He was appointed the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of Cybistra by the Holy See on 14 May 1816.
[1] On the retirement of Bishop Alexander Cameron on 20 August 1825, he automatically succeeded as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District.
[2][3] He had collapsed in the vestry after celebrating Mass and delivering a sermon.
Cardinal de Latil of Reims attended the funeral in choir.