he was first elected at the 1826 general election, and was re-elected at the next three general elections, until his defeat at the 1835 general election by the conservative party candidate john cressett-pelham. he was re-elected in 1837, but did not stand in 1841, when the seat was won by benjamin disraeli. he won the seat again in 1847, but did not stand in 1852. he was high sheriff of shropshire in 1854.