Businessman. Educated at Edinburgh Academy from 1832 until 1835; attended University of Edinburgh but did not graduate. Worked in merchant's offices in Leith and Glasgow; then manager of North Ireland Linen Mills, Belfast. Joined Carr Tagore & Co., mercantile and banking firm in Calcutta. Moved to New Zealand in 1850 and arrived in Sydney in October 1851; Travelled to Ballarat goldfield, Victoria, for few months; returned to New Zealand, where failed in sheep farming venture; returned to New South Wales August 1852. Joined Bank of New South Wales as assistant secretary in 1852; also assistant inspector in 1853; Secretary and inspector 1854 at £1200 p.a. Partner in R. Towns (q.v.) & Co. 1855, and senior partner on Towns' death in 1873. Director of the Bank of New South Wales from 1855 until 1861, 1867 until 1876, 1877 until 1879; President in 1861. In 1860s and 1870s was Trustee of Savings Bank of New South Wales and sometime Chairman Australian General Assurance Company. Director of Waratah Coal Co; took up extensive mining leases in Illawarra district in 1870s; from late 1870s chairman and proprietor Coal Cliff Coal Co. and a Director of the Trust and Agency Co. of Australia. In 1880s a Director of the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited, the Bowenfels Coal Mining and Copper Smelting Company and the Sydney Exchange Co. (1882 until 1886); also local director of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company. In 1860s invested extensively and unprofitably in properties in Queensland through R. Towns & Co; had real estate on North Shore, Sydney; owned two steamships built 1879. Almost bankrupt from1879 until 1880, but recovered. Commissioner for New South Wales at International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876; Executive Commissioner for New South Wales at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition 1886. Devout Anglican; lay member Sydney Diocesan synods from 1866; active on standing committee; represented Sydney on Provincial Synod from 1874 until 1883 and on General Synod from 1876; member of St Andrew's Cathedral Chapter from 1868; trustee Church lands, and of Moore Theological College; on Committee Church Society; fellow St Paul's College, University of Sydney; a founder of the Church of England Defence Association; asked by Bishop Barker to stand for the Legislative Assembly in 1874; favoured state aid to church schools. Friend of Charles Cowper from early 1850s; sued Rev. J.D. Lang for criminal libel 1855, resulting in latter's imprisonment for 6 months. Handicapped by stroke from October 1884. Estate valued at £83, 600.