He was educated at Tain Royal Academy and won the Matheson Gold Medal for mathematics at the age of 13.

[1][2] Described as "the doyen of British journalists in the East", for 36 years, he was Ceylon correspondent for the Times, having began his connection with the newspaper in 1870 when he sent in a report about a ship-wreck off the Point de Galle.

In 1863, he took over from his uncle the "Ceylon Handbook and Directory" which he grew to 1,800 pages, and was for many years regarded as the most useful book of its kind.

[1][2] In 1902, he was nominated as an unofficial member of the Ceylon Legislative Council, serving until his retirement in 1908.

[3] He was known for his promotion of education, and for his agitation against licensed opium shops and the spirit monopoly.