Enterprising grocer, born at Tring. After serving an apprenticeship in Hertfordshire, from 1862 he was employed by John Birks, a WM local preacher in Middlesbrough. After three years in London he rejoined Birks in 1868 as a partner and from 1871 took over the business. He enlarged their South Street shop and opened others, so that by the mid-80s he was the largest grocer in the town. Joined by his two sons, he expanded the business into the Teesside area, developing trading links with America and a wholesale branch and establishing a reputation for integrity and quality. The firm became a limited company in 1914 and continued to expand after his death. He was a staunch Liberal, served as councillor and alderman in Middlesbrough and was mayor of the town in 1887. He was successively a member of Centenary, Wesley and Park WM chapels in the town and was a staunch teetotaler. A benevolent paternalist, he introduced a weekly half-holiday for his employees in 1882.