He was Liberal Member of Parliament for Bow and Bromley from 1892 to 1895, for Falkirk Burghs from 1906-1918 and for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs from 1918-1922.
He was also an elected member of the London School Board for Marylebone in 1897 and 1900, resigning in 1902. In 1885 he married Alice Mary Noel, daughter of Edward H. Noel.
He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1916
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