Born in Northport, Canada West, he was a lawyer and teacher before being elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the Ontario riding of Elgin West in the 1908 federal election. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1911 and as a Unionist in 1917.
A lawyer and educator from Northport, Canada West, he served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada representing the Ontario riding of Elgin West. He held this position as a Conservative in 1908, then re-elected as a Conservative in 1911 and again as a Unionist in 1917.