Brother-in-law of Nathaniel Sowerby, he was an MP holding minor positions in the Treasury and the Admiralty, and, for three short weeks, was Lord Petty Bag.

"He was a younger son, and not possessed of any large fortune. Politics as a profession was therefore of importance to him.... He was labourious, well-informed, and on the whole, honest.. but he was conceited, long-winded, and pompous" - Framley Parsonage