He and his parents arrived in Western Australia in 1830, travelling aboard Rockingham (one of Thomas Peel's ships).

They initially lived in Peel's settlement, Clarence, but that failed after a few years and they moved north to Fremantle and then to Perth.

He also helped to found Perth's first building society, serving as a director from 1862 and as president from 1875.

He served as chairman (the equivalent of mayor) from 1869 to 1873, and was in office when the Perth Town Hall was opened in 1870.

In June 1874, Glyde was nominated to the Legislative Council by the governor, Frederick Weld.