Born at his father's Vicarage of Thorncombe in Dorsetshire in April, 1798. He was educated at the United Borough Hospitals and was appointed in 1823 Assistant Surgeon in the service of the HEIC on the Bengal establishment. He was detailed for ophthalmic work, especially to take charge of the Indo-European lads at the lower orphan school who had contracted disease of the eyes. He dealt successfully with an epidemic of this nature, and during his stay in India held the first position as an oculist at the Eye Hospital, which was established under his immediate care, and afterwards at the Medical College Hospital. He was the first Surgeon at the Calcutta Medical College Hospital, and was appointed Professor of Surgery and Clinical Surgery. It was mainly due to his influence that the College was established to teach the natives anatomy by actual dissection. He left India early in 1847, and, retiring from practice, lived at Kendal Lodge, Epping, where he died in May, 1885.