He was the son of a mechanical engineer and was educated at Fort Street High School and the University of Sydney.
During World War 2, Black served with the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve in the English Channel and North Sea.
Black was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the member for Neutral Bay at a by-election caused by the death of the party leader, Reg Weaver.
He remained the member for Neutral Bay until 1951 when he resigned to unsuccessfully contest the party pre-selection for the seat of Warringah at the 1951 Federal election.
Black remained the member for Neutral Bay until his retirement at the 1962 election, despite emigrating to England to establish a legal practice in 1961.