 He was admitted to Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1801 but migrated to St Catharine's College in 1804.In 1805 he graduated BA as senior wrangler and equal Smith's Prizeman.Elected a fellow of St Catharine's in 1806, he was Lucasian Professor of Mathematics from 1822 to 1826 and Regius Professor of Divinity from 1827 to 1842.