Marks was born in Culwulla House, Jamberoo, New South Wales and educated at Sydney Grammar School.

He won most major Australian yachting trophies in Culwulla I-IV, and participated in the trials of Sir Thomas Lipton's America's Cup challenger, Shamrock IV in 1914.

In World War I he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and served as a lieutenant in the North Sea and English Channel, commanded a gunnery school in Wales and returned to Australia in 1918 to encourage military recruitment.

This would be followed by the Second Coming of Christ, who would direct the Royal Navy to collect his chosen people from around the world and bring them to Palestine.

Marks joined the new United Australia Party on its formation in May 1931, but was defeated at the 1931 election by another UAP candidate, Eric Harrison.