He was a naval officer and surgeon and travelled widely, in 1824 settling in Hobart in Tasmania.
In 1838 he was brought to Sydney as first health officer, and granted land in Cassilis.
He led an expedition to the Clarence River Valley and played a key role in developing the district.
While in Sydney he built up a very large property at Newington in the city's inner west.
He donated a large stained glass window with his coat of arms to the University of NSW.