He migrated to Brisbane, Queensland with his family in 1864 and worked for three years on the Maryborough Sugar Company's plantation.

In 1872, he opened his own wholesale merchant business, Corser and Co. Ltd., which became a "large commercial establishment" at Maryborough selling wine, spirits and general merchandise, and continued to be managed by one of his sons after he entered politics.

A by-election was ordered, which he was eventually declared to have won by 2 votes; a further challenge did not proceed for procedural reasons.

[5][6] In 1915, as the candidate of the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party, he transferred to federal Parliament by winning the 1915 Wide Bay by-election caused by the resignation of Labor Prime Minister Andrew Fisher.

[6] Corser died unexpectedly in his sleep at his family's Maryborough home, "Eskdale", in 1928 while still a serving MP.