In 1754 he succeeded John Brown as Lord Provost of Glasgow being succeeded in 1756 by Robert Christie. He served a second time, in 1766 he succeeding John Bowman as Lord Provost of Glasgow. After this second term he was succeeded in 1768 by James Buchanan of Drumpellier. In his role as Lord Provost he laid the foundation stone of Jamaica Bridge in September 1768 (the second bridge over the River Clyde in the city). He was chastised for not informing his fellow masons in advance of this action.
