He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1907 and 1910 to 1917, representing the electorate of Macquarie.
He intended to study law, but due to his family's financial situation instead apprenticed as a furniture and cabinet maker.
He was an unsuccessful Labor candidate at the 1903 Tamworth state by-election and the 1903 federal election in East Sydney.
He was chairman of committees from March 1914 to February 1917 and was well-regarded in the role, as of result of which he had been touted as a potential future Speaker.
He became ill in September 1916 with what was described as Bright's disease, spending long periods in hospital and physically struggling during the 1917 election campaign.