He was educated by private teachers at St Albans and Chelmsford, at a dissenting academy in Northampton, and at the University of Glasgow.
The scheme was carried on for thirteen years, but it was not supported by the members of the church who had professed to be dissatisfied with the Book of Common Prayer.
In the spring of 1781 he was appointed divinity tutor at Warrington Academy, in succession to John Aikin; but it was then in its final years.
From 1785 to 1795 he ministered at the High Pavement Chapel, Nottingham as the colleague of George Walker.
He married in 1765 Dorothy, daughter of James Nicholson of Liverpool.