He entered St. Thomas's Hospital in 1847, taking the first scholarship, and afterwards gaining the treasurer's gold medal.

He was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1851, and after serving the offices of house surgeon and resident accoucheur at St. Thomas's Hospital, he commenced general practice at Croydon in 1852.

He was lecturer on public health at St. Thomas's Hospital 1875–84, ond in 1881 he was elected a vice-president of the Social Science Association.

He stood twice for parliament in the liberal interest—in 1885 for Reigate, and in 1886 for North Bristol, but in each case unsuccessfully.

He studied the general sanitary conditions of Croydon with great care, he established baths, and ventilated the sewers.

Besides many small works and papers upon sanitary medicine and alcoholic drinks, Carpenter published 'The Principles and Practice of School Hygiene,' London, 1887, 12mo.