He was educated by private tutor, but abandoned his schooling at the age of 14 to join the London firm of Copestake Moore and Co.

They lived in a large residence on the corner of Bulwer and Lord Streets in Perth, which he named Dilhorn after his birthplace.

The firm was involved in a variety of mercantile activities, mostly in the north-west of the state, and owned three coastal trading ships.

It was also involved in a number of agricultural and pastoral developments, with extensive property holdings in the north west and also at Perth, Guildford and Northam.

On 14 July of that year, he was nominated to the Western Australian Legislative Council, a position that he held until resigning on 13 December 1887.

When Western Australia gained responsible government in December 1890, Loton won the seat of Swan in the Legislative Assembly, holding it until the election of 4 May 1897, which he did not contest.