 He took up a career as an engineer with the local shipping company of D. Adams and Company and the Anglo-Scottish Trading Company.In 1902 he was elected to Newcastle City Council, and held the office of sheriff in 1922-1923 and lord mayor in 1930–31.At the 1918 general election, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the new Newcastle upon Tyne West constituency, losing to the Liberal Party cabinet minister Edward Shortt.