He served as a member of the City's school committee, and represented wards 5 and 8 on Boston's Common Council.

The election included allegations from Butler that Field held anti-Irish views as he had once advertised for a servant in which he specified that he sought a Protestant and 'no Irish need apply".

[7] Field won the election by a larger majority; however, Dean again challenged the result charging irregularities with the count.

Field was appointed by Governor John Davis Long to the bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on February 21, 1881.

He was promoted by Governor John Quincy Adams Brackett to the position of Chief Justice on September 4, 1890 and served until his death in Boston on July 15, 1899.