Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, When his parents both died, he moved to Alabama with his sister and settled in Perry County in 1858.

He served as chairman of the Democratic committee of Hale County for six years.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the Forty-eighth Congress.

Presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect to the Fifty-first Congress and served from March 4, 1889, to June 4, 1890, when he was succeeded by John V. McDuffie, who contested his election.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress