Studied at Guy's Hospital and practised for about forty years at Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire, where he was Surgeon to the Infirmary and Dispensary. He was a Certifying Factory Surgeon who became deeply concerned with the terribly long hours worked by children and young people in the cotton mills. On January 25th, 1847, at a meeting at Bolton, promoted by Snape and others - Lord Ashley, afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, being present - a motion was passed in favour of petitioning Parliament to pass a Bill for the shortening of hours of work in factories. Otherwise his practice among local families of importance took up most of his time and debarred him from public affairs. He had all the instinctive love of his profession, along with kindness of heart and simplicity of character, which won for him the love and esteem of a large circle of friends. He died at his house in Chorley New Road, Bolton, on January 13th, 1887, leaving a widow and three sons.