He was born in Quebec City in 1798, studied there and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He joined the law practice of Andrew Stuart at Quebec City. In 1836, he was appointed judge in the Court of Vice-Admiralty for the Quebec district, serving as its president for 37 years. In 1840, he was named to the Special Council that governed Lower Canada after the Lower Canada Rebellion. In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Quebec City and was a supporter of the Tories. He did not run in 1844. He was named a Companion in the Order of the Bath in 1862.