He represented King Williams Town in the General Assembly (lower house) of the Cape Parliament from 1874 until 1877.

He was one of the first officers in the Kaffrarian Volunteers, and was a leader of the movement which opposed the dis-annexation of British Kaffraria by the Cape Colony.

While there, he was appointed by the Cape Prime Minister Thomas Charles Scanlen to be a Member of the Council of Advice to the Agent General.

Here he also kept a close eye on the interests of the Cape frontier region, especially its principal shipping port, East London.

He represented the Eastern Circle (Province) in the Legislative Council (upper house) of the Cape Parliament from 1891 until 1898.