He entered Merchant Taylors' School on 11 September 1684, and matriculated from St John's College, Oxford, on 25 February 1692.

On 11 March 1721 he was installed a prebendary of Westminster, and on 3 December 1721 he was consecrated bishop of Gloucester, holding his stall in commendam.

He refused further promotion, declining the archbishopric of York, and devoted himself to completing the west front of Westminster Abbey.

He died on 28 February 1756, and was buried in the Abbey on 9 March under the consistory court, where his son erected a monument to his memory in 1761.

He married Jane (died 27 March 1725), the daughter of John Milner, British consul at Lisbon.