He was originally brought up as a farmer, but he abandoned that pursuit, and moved to London in 1834, and began business as a general agent in Cheapside.
The colt was afterwards exchanged for three mares, and these formed the commencement of a stud destined to become the most celebrated of any establishment of horses in Europe.
The establishment now rapidly increased, until it was augmented to upwards of two hundred of the highest class and best mares that money and experience could produce.
Kingston, Touchstone, Birdcatcher, and Newminster were the four cornerstones of his extensive stud, and it was to the first of these that he, to a great extent, owed his success as a breeder; for that horse was the sire of Caractacus, who was perhaps the most sensational Derby winner on record.
These stud farms paid their proprietor a handsome return on his outlay during his lifetime, and his liberality was shown in many ways, conspicuously, however, in his founding the great two-year-old race at Newmarket, to which he contributed for some time 1,000l.