Born in Silverton, New South Wales, his family soon moved to Adelaide, where he was raised.

He attended the Adelaide School of Mines before becoming an architect and accountant, and later secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union.

In 1918, he was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly as the Labor member for Murray, serving until 1921.

He unsuccessfully contested the 1931 federal election for Lang Labor, but resigned in April 1932 along with a number of other figures, including sole MP Martin Collaton, who were disgruntled with the South Australian party leadership.

[3][4] He contested the 1933 state election, standing for the official Labor Party in the seat of Barossa, but was unsuccessful.