He moved to Van Diemen's Land in 1837 and for over 20 years practised as a solicitor.
In 1857 he was elected a member of the legislative council for Tamar and was colonial secretary in the Weston cabinet.
He held this office for five and a half years until his resignation in 1862.
[1] He was also an Australian cricketer, who played two games for Tasmania in 1851.
He has the distinction of having participated in the first ever first-class cricket match in Australia, and having bowled the first ever ball in a first class cricket match in Australia.