He was born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, the son of Thomas Hackett and Ellen Condon, immigrants from Ireland.

He was first employed as a bookkeeper for a store before opening his own business in 1864, also entering the fish trade.

He served as justice of the peace for Prince County from 1872 to 1876.

Hackett was defeated in bids for reelection to the House of Commons in 1887, 1897 and 1898.

This article about a Prince Edward Island politician is a stub.