The son was born in Gluvias parish, Cornwall, on 29 September 1789, and, although brought up by very pious parents, was not converted until his twenty-second year.
He arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1820, being the second minister of the Wesleyan denomination sent to the Australian colonies, and on 18 Aug. introduced Methodism into that island by a public service in Hobart Town.
It was not long before he proceeded to New South Wales, where, in the towns of Windsor, Sydney, and Parramatta, he passed the next five years of his ministration.
He had a high sense of the importance of the press as a means of promoting religion, and in conjunction with his brethren commenced in 1820 the publication of the ‘Australian Magazine,’ the first of its class seen in the colony.
Returning to his native land in 1830 he continued in the full discharge of his ministerial duties in various parts of England throughout the remainder of his life.