Background
His family was from Edgbaston and he was born in Birmingham, England in 1759 and studied law at Lincoln"s Inn in London.
His family was from Edgbaston and he was born in Birmingham, England in 1759 and studied law at Lincoln"s Inn in London.
He was called to the bar in 1791. In 1798, he was appointed judge in the Court of King"s Bench of Upper Canada. In 1800, he was elected to the 3rd Parliament of Upper Canada representing Durham, Simcoe and 1st New York
However, a petition was raised citing irregularities on the part of his agent and he was unseated.
He presided over the trial of John Small for the murder of John White in a duel. Small was set free. In 1802, he became chief justice for Upper Canada succeeding John Elmsley and, in 1803, he was appointed to the Executive Council for the province.
He was named speaker for the Legislative Council of Lower Canada in January 1808. He died of a fever at Quebec City in 1808, while in office.
In 1805, he became chief justice and a member of the Executive Council for Lower Canada despite support for another candidate, Jonathan Sewell, by the upper class of the province and the lieutenant governor.