He was the son of a carter and was educated to 8th grade level at Maitland High School.
He was an office-holder in the Miners' Federation and was general secretary of the Northern Lodge of the union from 1954 to 1959.
He was elected for the balance of the term of Francis Buckley who resigned from parliament.
He won the seat replacing the previous member John Crook.
[1] He retired due to ill health prior to the state election of 1978.