He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1926 to 1940 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition.

He was educated in Picton and later moved to Calgary where he married Annetta Brown and together had five children.

He won the third place seat out of five in the eleven way race to earn his first term in office.

[6] Irwin ran for a second term in office in the 1930 Alberta general election.

[7] Irwin ran for a third term in office in the 1935 Alberta general election.