During the United States Civil War he served in the medical department of the Union Army.

He was appointed acting assistant surgeon in 1866, and was assigned to Lake City, Florida.

He resigned from the medical department of the army upon readmission of the State of Florida into the Union.

He became president of the board of regents of the Agricultural College and School of Science of the State of Washington in 1891.

He practiced medicine in Port Townsend until his death, and was interred there in the Masonic Cemetery.