sentences:  His family moved and he was educated at Grange School, Bo'ness, in West Lothian.He became a jeweller and watchmaker and entered Edinburgh Town Council as a Liberal in 1900.He was Convener of the Electricity Committee 1904–1906 and 1909–1915; Magistrate 1906–1909; City Treasurer 1922–1925; and Lord Provost 1926–1929.