Career
He was first elected in the Canadian federal election of 1891 and was re-elected seven more times. During his years in the House of Commons, he served as a cabinet minister in a variety of posts in the Cabinet of Canada, including:
Minister of Customs (10 October 1911 – 11 October 1917)
Minister of Railways and Canals (12 October 1917 – 20 September 1921)
Minister of Customs and Inland Revenue (Acting) 2 September 1919 – 30 December 1919)
Minister of Public Works (Acting) (6 August 1919 – 2 September 1919) and (31 December 1919 – 12 July 1920)
On 22 September 1921, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the recommendation of Arthur Meighen. He represented the senatorial division of Grenville, Ontario until his death.