Born in Bristol, Pennsylvania; pursued an academic course; studied law; admitted to the bar of the supreme court of New Jersey in 1790 and commenced practice in Burlington, New Jersey in 1791.
He was clerk of Burlington County, New Jersey 1796-1800; clerk of the county court 1800 - 1823; United States Attorney for New Jersey 1801 - 1820; appointed judge of the superior court of New Jersey in 1818, but declined.