Miner and pastoralist. At age nine worked on a cattle station for a year and from the age of 11 to 14 worked on a sheep station. From the age of 14 to 17, worked as a carrier for the Burra Burra copper mine and overlanded cattle for the mine between Adelaide and New South Wales. From 1851 to 1853 prospected on the Victorian goldfields and then returned to Adelaide where he bought 250 acres of land near the city. A fire in 1855 burnt out all property. Returning to South Australia managed Tallin station and Tarcoon and Mooculta stations on the Bogan River in New South Wales to which he overlanded 10,000 sheep. Organized travelling wool-scouring plants and had business ventures in fellmongery, butchering and soap-making. He bought Mooculta station in 1868 and subsequently bought Briningabba and Willara with his brother. In the 1870's speculated in mining and by 1883 was the Chairman of the the Great Cobar Copper Mining Company which employed around 1500 people. Directed 14 other mining companies and was chairman of 11 of them. Diversified investments into insurance and pastoral finance, becoming the Director of the Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company, British and Foreign Insurance Company and Managing Director of the Pastoral Finance Association Limited.