Born at Burnley in October, 1811, and was apprenticed at the age of 13 to John Gilbertson of that town. He was educated at Guy's Hospital, and settled in practice at Preston, where he soon acquired popularity. He was Surgeon to the Preston Dispensary. In 1857 and again in 1870 he was President of the Lancashire and Cheshire Branch of the British Medical Association, and was President of the Preston Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge. He took an active interest in local affairs, and it was largely at his instance that Preston got an improved water-supply. He was elected Alderman in 1857, and was Mayor in 1857-1858, and again in 1870-1871. He was a friend of the poor, kind-hearted, genial, and inspired confidence in the sick patient that everything possible was being done for him. He was attacked by erysipelas of the face, and died at his residence, 9 Winckley Square, Preston, on May 1st, 1872, the attack having been attributed to poor health and overwork. He was a widower; of his four sons, the eldest was a surgeon in practice in Preston, the third was the first Miller Exhibitioner at the University of Cambridge, and the fourth was a medical student in London.