Career
He was the Mayor of Hamilton from December 1878 to December 1879, when he resigned. From 1879 he represented the Waikato electorate, until his retirement in 1890. He was appointed from 22 January 1891 as one of seven new members (including Harry Atkinson himself) appointed to the Council by the outgoing fourth Atkinson Ministry.
A move regarded by Liberals as a stacking of the upper house against the new government.