He was born in 1616 at Broughton, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. He obtained a B.A. degree from Oxford University in 1637 and an M.A. in 1640, qualifying as a physician with an MD in 1648.  He died in 1657 near Boulogne while serving as a physician to the English army. He left a widow, Mary, and a son, John.
He lived at a time when the new science of chemistry was developing from alchemy and was an enthusiast for its application to medicine.  He was known for his extensive knowledge of chemistry and was respected by scientists of the time such as Robert Boyle.