He was a founder member of the Birmingham Liberal Association in 1865, and became its first chairman in 1868. In 1877 he was elected the first treasurer of the National Liberal Federation. At the 1880 general election he successfully stood for parliament as a Liberal in Nottingham. At the same time he had been helping the Liberal cause in Birmingham. However, on the evening of his success, 15 April, at a dinner held in his honour at the Council House, he died of an apoplexy, aged 58.