Born near Brookeborough in Ireland, he was prominent in local and national politics. Between 1885 and 1910 he successively representing constituencies in Clare, Meath and Fermanagh in the United Kingdom Parliament. Passionately concerned about social justice and temperance, he advocated land reform, and in 1886 outraged the Irish Methodist leadership by making his maiden speech in the House of Commons in favour of Home Rule. He died on 21 December 1911.