Career
Born in Barrie, Ontario, he was mayor of Barrie between 1902 and 1904 and commissioner of Simcoe County, Ontario between 1905 and 1906. He was re-elected in 1917 and 1921 then re-elected in the riding of Simcoe North in 1925 and 1926. He was the Whip of the Conservative Party (1921–1926) then Chief Government Whip in 1926.