in 1849 his family removed to albany, new york, where he attended the public schools and the albany academy. he graduated from union college in 1861, was a recruiting officer on the staff of general john f. rathbone (1819–1901) in 1861-1862, taught in the albany academy in 1862-1865, and was editor of the albany express in 1865-1870. he joined the staff of the "albany journal" in 1870, and was editor-in-chief of this paper from 1876 to 1880. in 1879-1880 he was a regent of the university of the state of new york. from 1880 until his death he was editor and part proprietor of the "philadelphia press".