[2] He probably arrived in Sydney on board the James Pattison and spent the next few years gaining pastoral experience before heading to the Darling Downs with sheep in 1848.

He found work in Cecil Plains, becoming Henry Stuart Russell's head stockman before becoming a partner in 1856 and sole owner in 1859.

It was supplemented by Dunmore, Goodar and Coomrith stations on the Western Downs and Mount Marlow on the Barcoo River.

He resigned after almost ten years of service in January 1881 to once again stand for the seat of Drayton and Toowoomba but was once again unsuccessful.

He was reappointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in July 1881 and served until his retirement due to ill health[3] in August 1893.