His family migrated to South Australia when he was five years old, settling in Willunga before relocating to Mount Gambier in 1858.

He was a storekeeper's assistant before entering the Primitive Methodist ministry and serving as minister from 1873 until 1883, with circuits at Moonta Mines, Two Wells, Woodside, Kapunda and Naracoorte.

In 1883 he left the ministry and worked as a storekeeper at Mount Gambier, although he remained a lay Methodist preacher for the rest of his life.

He was described as a Past Grand of the Independent Order of Oddfellows and was a founder of their Orroroo lodge in 1880.

[1][2][3][4] He won a 1904 by-election for the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Victoria and Albert following the death of Andrew Dods Handyside.