He was one of the very few Straits officials who had studied the Malay political and social systems.
He was an expert on native affairs on the Malay Peninsula whom Governors Ord and Anson used in different negotiations.
In 1871 Anson sent James W. W. Birch, then Colonial Secretary, together with Auditor-General Irving to see Sultan Abdul Samad at Langat to re-establish order there.
[3][4][5][6][7] He was acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang from 1879 to 1880, Resident Councillor of Penang from 1885 to 1887, Colonial Auditor General to the government of the Straits Settlements at Penang from 1867[8] to 1879 and acting Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements from 1875 to 1876 under governors Sir Harry Ord, Edward Anson and Sir William Jervois.
He was a member of the newly formed Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in Singapore, acting as the society's president around 1883.