He moved with his parents to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1792 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1805 and commenced practice in Knoxville. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits and served as a member of state house of representatives in 1811 and as secretary of state of Tennessee 1811-1815. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives serving from December 8, 1815 to March 3, 1819. He was elected to the Fourteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Sevier and was reelected to the Fifteenth Congress. He chose not to run for another term and resumed the practice of his law in Knoxville. He moved to Paris, Tennessee in 1826 to continue the practice of law until his death on May 21, 1827. He is interred in the City Cemetery in Paris, Tennessee.
