At an early age he entered the service of an attorney named Grey, residing near Leicester Fields, who aided him in his education.
[1] A few years later, he obtained the appointment of clerk of works under the architect Henry Holland, and was engaged in the rebuilding of Carlton House, London.
The Duke started in Woburn annual exhibitions of sheep-shearing, and during these events Salmon's work in improving agricultural implements attracted much attention.
[1] He received at various times silver medals from the Society of Arts for surgical instruments, a canal lock, a weighing machine, a humane mantrap, and a system of earthwalls.
He was buried two days later in Woburn Church, where the 6th Duke of Bedford placed a tablet commemorating his "unwearied zeal and disinterested integrity".