He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as a Senator for South Australia from 1923 until his death in 1927 at the age of 40.

He was educated at Christian Brothers College and worked as a clerk and commercial agent after leaving school.

He was interested in public speaking from a young age and served as president of the St Patrick's Literary Society.

He argued for the re-introduction of first-past-the-post voting, which he regarded as a fairer system for Senate elections, and called for a referendum to reform or abolish the state upper houses.

His condition rapidly deteriorated and he was admitted to Struan Private Hospital, where he died of pneumonia on 24 July.