He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County in 1867.
He and his brother Joseph Whitaker owned various iron works in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, notably the Principio Furnace in Cecil County and the Durham Furnace in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
That year he purchased the Principio Furnace along with 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) of timberland.
The property had been abandoned since it was burned down by Admiral George Cockburn in the War of 1812.
[1][2][3][4] In 1845, he along with his brother Joseph, David Reeves and Joseph's son W. P. C. Whitaker built Havre de Grace Iron Works in Havre de Grace.
[2] In 1848, he along with partners purchased Durham Furnace in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
In 1855, Whitaker and his brother purchased an interest in the Crescent Iron Works in Wheeling, West Virginia.
[6] He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County in 1867.
[1][7] He served with Alexander Evans, William Lindsey and Henry S. Magraw.
They had ten children, including Edmund S., Nelson E. and Caroline (married Joseph C. Naudaine).
[5] Whitaker died on December 31, 1890, at Principio Furnace in Cecil County.