A merchant, he was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for Cape Breton in the 1872 federal election. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1874, 1878, and 1882.
He entered politics as a businessman, being first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for Cape Breton in the 1872 federal election. As a Conservative, he secured re-election in 1874, 1878, and 1882.