Born in Northumberland, he was educated in Edinburgh University and King's College London. In 1838 he moved to London to be minister at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark. From 1840 he was secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society. He also took up the post of secretary of Stepney College, established to provide education for Baptists and other Non-Conformists who were at the time barred from attending university. In 1849 he became principal of the college, and in 1856 moved the college to Regents Park, at the same time gaining affiliation to the University of London. He held the post of President of Regents Park College until 1893.