He became an expert in alpaca wool, and in 1842 began business as a dealer in South American products. In 1847 he was grazing sheep and cattle half-way between Tacna and La Paz, and in 1852 went to Sydney to inquire into the possibility of introducing the alpaca into Australia.
He became an expert in alpaca wool and started a business selling South American products, which led him to graze sheep and cattle halfway between Tacna and La Paz by 1847. He then traveled to Sydney in 1852 to investigate the possibility of introducing alpacas to Australia.