He was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Littleton in 1839. He was subsequently elected again to the House from Concord in 1856 and 1857, and served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. On 23 September 1859 he was appointed associate justice to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, where he served as a justice from 1859 to 1869 and Chief Justice from 1869 until his death on March 11, 1873.
He was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Littleton in 1839. He was then re-elected again to the same position from Concord in 1856 and 1857, and held a leadership role as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Subsequently, he was appointed to serve on the New Hampshire Supreme Court, holding various positions including justice and Chief Justice.