He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for a single term from 1950 until 1953 .
He was the son of a solicitor and was educated at Parramatta High School and Sydney Teachers College.
He worked as a school teacher in Rozelle, New South Wales between 1938 and 1950 and was an alderman on Marrickville Municipal Council between 1944 and 1948.
Adamson was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the Liberal member for Concord at the January 1950 by-election caused by the death of the sitting member Brice Mutton.
Adamson returned to teaching and was the deputy principal of Newtown Boys' High School between 1972 and 1975.