he was born in west maitland to baker francis michael bryant and harriett horder. from 1885 to 1890 he worked for the salvation army across new south wales, later working as a compositor. in 1882 he married elizabeth horder, with whom he had four children; he would later marry harriett o'connor on 10 march 1924. from 1905 to 1907 he was vice-president of the new south wales typographical association, serving as president in 1906. he was appointed to the new south wales legislative council in 1912 as a labor member, having been president of that party's central executive from 1908 to 1909. in 1920 he was expelled from the party after supporting nationalist candidates at the 1920 state election. he was soon readmitted, but expelled for a second time in 1926 after voting against the abolition of the council. he subsequently sat as a nationalist and then for the united australia party until the reconstitution of the council in 1934. bryant died at lidcombe in 1946.