He founded one of the firms which amalgamated to create Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

In 1883 he was admitted to the Society of Accountants in Edinburgh and immediately left for London, joining the firm of Broads, Patterson & May.

In 1889 he was appointed first secretary of the Industrial and General Trust, later becoming manager, director in 1898, and chairman in 1908.

In 1910 he was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Islington, but retired due to ill-health in 1918.

He was knighted in 1917 and created a baronet for his political services in the 1920 Birthday Honours.