He was born in Scotland, lived in Australia from 1881 to 1892, and then spent the rest of his life in England.

Symon arrived in the Colony of Western Australia in 1881, settling in Fremantle.

He initially worked for Harrold Brothers, but later had his own firm, Symon, Hammond, & Hubble.

[1] At the 1890 general election in Western Australia, the first held for the new Legislative Assembly, Symon was elected to the seat of South Fremantle,[2] unexpectedly defeating a former mayor of Fremantle, Daniel Congdon.

[3] However, his time in parliament was short-lived, as in September 1892 he resigned his seat and left for England.