After attending the Universities of St Andrew and Cambridge, he became an enthusiastic author of popular science. In 1884 he was elected member of parliament for Hackney, and from 1885-1900 was member of parliament for Shoreditch, Hoxton. He lost his parliamentary seat in 1900. In the meantime he became a Progressive Party member of the London County Council. He was an alderman from 1890-98, a councillor representing Hackney Central from 1898-1901 and for Shoreditch, Haggerston from 1901-07. He returned to the House of Commons as member of parliament for Sunderland from 1906-10.