On leaving university he became one of the assistant masters of Eton College, where he was tutor to Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle.
at Cambridge; and in 1782 he was installed Dean of Carlisle, on the advancement of Thomas Percy to the see of Dromore.
He died at Parson's Green on 20 November 1791, and was buried in the chancel of All Saints Church, Fulham.
His sister Elizabeth, wife of John Hatsell (Clerk of the House of Commons, 1768-1820) was buried alongside him in 1804.
His works are: He married in 1766 Anne, daughter of Philip Baker of Coulston, Wiltshire, and sister of the wife of his brother, John Ekins, dean of Salisbury.