He was educated at Omagh Academy and Queens College Belfast.
On graduating he took the ICS examination, placing sixth overall and first in mathematics.
[1] When in India he served at all times in the Finance branch ending as Financial Member of the Viceroy's council.
He was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) for his services in India, and subsequently Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) on 17 July 1899 for his various financial services to the British Government.
[2] He was a Financial Member of the Indian Viceroy's Council under Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, writer on monetary issues, and Irish loyalist.