Career
He entered the House of Commons in 1837 as a member for Ipswich, having previously been defeated in the North Essex election in 1835, but lost that seat a year later. He was returned for Devonport in a by-election in 1840 and held that seat until 1854. He held minor posts in the governments of Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell, and was made a Privy Counsellor in 1850.
He, along with George Cornewall Lewis, translated Otfried Müller"s book The History and Antiquities of the Doric Race into English.