He attended Yale College for a year and a half, then studied law in Lockport, received a degree from Yale in 1841, was admitted to the bar the same year, and commenced practice in Lockport.
[1] He was a member of the New York State Senate (29th D.) in 1859, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Horatio J. Stow.
He was seated on March 21, and attended the remainder of the session until April 19.
[2] In December 1862, he was appointed by Judge Charles A. Peabody as Prosecuting Attorney at the U.S.
In November 1871, he was elected to a full term on the Supreme Court (8th D.), and died in office.