He unsuccessfully ran for the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the electoral district of Hochelaga in the 1867 election and again in 1875.

In 1878, he was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the House of Commons of Canada for the electoral district of Hochelaga.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Canadian House of Commons in the 1891 federal election for the riding of Montreal East.

He was called to the Senate of Canada for the senatorial division of Mille Isles on the advice of Wilfrid Laurier in 1903.

He served until his death in 1926 and was entombed at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.