He went to the Mount Radford School in Exeter and later studied under The Reverend C Thomas of Lew Trenchard.

His work attracted the early admiration of the Earl of Egremont, J. M. W. Turner’s patron.

Three of his sea-pieces were exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1842 to 1845, which gave hopes of his becoming a distinguished artist.

He left a widow, Flora Ross, the third daughter of Major John Lockhart Gallie, of the 28th Regiment and a daughter, Harriet Charlotte Florence Pigott Condy (1846–1880) who married the painter Walter Duncan (1848–1932).

After his death Flora married her cousin Samuel Charles Roby.