He began his musical studies as a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral, under William Hawes, and was one of the choir boys at Westminster Abbey at the coronation of Queen Victoria.
In 1860 he established the National Choral Society, by which he maintained for some years at Exeter Hall an admirable series of oratorio performances.
As a composer his genius lay in the direction of the madrigal and part-song; and from the publication of his prize glee, 'Is she not beautiful?'
in 1845 onwards few years passed in which he did not win distinction from some of the leading glee and madrigal societies of the country, for which he won numerous prizes.
He died, quite destitute, at Bolingbroke House Hospital, Wandsworth, and was buried in Woking cemetery by the parish.