Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, he was a lawyer, businessman and a city councillor in St. John's. He was also the president of the Newfoundland Liberal party. He was summoned to the Senate of Canada in 1964 representing the senatorial division of St. John's East, Newfoundland and Labrador. He sat a member of the Liberal caucus until 1982 when he resigned and sat as an Independent.
