Initially a teacher, he was appointed assistant to Maskelyne, then astronomer-royal, at Greenwich and later conducted research in India, becoming one of the first members of the Asiatic Society.
Initially a teacher, he was appointed assistant to Maskelyne, then astronomer-royal, at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and was involved in the Schiehallion experiment. He later conducted research in India, becoming one of the first members of the Asiatic Society.