He was born at Moonee Ponds to carpenter William Merrifield and Sarah Semmens.
He worked with the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board until 1930, but was unemployed from 1931 to 1935 when he resumed his previous job.
After a brief stint with the State Electricity Commission he worked for the Department of the Interior from 1940 to 1943.
In 1958 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for Doutta Galla Province.
He was deputy leader of the Labor Party in the Legislative Council from 1960 to 1970, when he retired from politics.