Journalist; lawyer (barrister). Educated at Crown Street public school, pupil teacher at Erskineville; junior and cost clerk with a legal firm, Creagh and Williams from 1886 until 1890; managing clerk with Williamson and Williamson from 1891 until 1892; for health reasons sought alternative employment; started Bowral Free Press in 1893; went to Bowral, New England, Hillgrove; returned to Sydney as a certificated conveyancer in 1895; managing clerk at Chenhall and Eddie in 1896; conveyance and equity clerk with Lawrence and Rich from 1896 until 1898; admitted as a solicitor in 1901, with Brown and Beeby from 1902 until 1909, Beeby and Moffatt from 1910 until 1911; called to Bar in 1911; contributor to country press; visited United States of America and England in 1919 to investigate industrial problems for the government. Appointed as a Judge of the New South Wales Industrial Arbitration Court and president of the Board of Trade in 1920, Judge of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court in 1926, Chief Judge in 1939, retired in 1941;member of Single Tax League c.1891 and the Australian Socialist League c.1895; member of Farmer and Settlers Association from 1913 until 1915; author. Resigned from the portfolio and seat in December 1912 to establish party, re-elected as Farmers and Settlers' candidate in 1913, lacking supporters in parliament. resigned from the seat in 1913; founded Progressive party in 1915; National Association from 1917 until 1919 and was briefly the deputy leader.