he was elected a member of the massachusetts house of representatives in 1817, elected a member of the maine house of representatives in 1820 and 1821. he was appointed collector of customs in saco from 1829-1841. he was elected as a democrat to the twenty-ninth congress (march 4, 1845 – march 3, 1847). he was chairman of committee on expenditures in the us department of the treasury (twenty-ninth congress).