He was born at Burrowbridge on the River Parrett in Somerset, where he was educated, before sailing to South Australia in 1863 in the Adamant at the age of 18.

For a time he resided in the south-east of South Australia and worked on the land, then for the wholesale merchants Goode Brothers in Adelaide.

In 1886, he and W. Everard bought the Payneham and Paradise Tram Company then in 1896 the Goodwood and Clarence Park tramways.

He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in the seat of Gumeracha, but resigned after objections that he was a government contractor.

[2][3] He helped found the Adelaide Y.M.C.A., of which he was for many years a committee member, also of the Royal Institute for the Blind and Home for Incurables.