Born in Bareneed, Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1953 as a Member of the Liberal Party to represent the riding of Humber—St. George's and re-elected in the elections of 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965 and he was defeated in the election of 1968 in the riding of Humber—St. George's—St. Barbe.
The Port de Grave peninsula contains the communities of Bareneed, Black Duck Pond, Otterbury, Ship Cove, Blow Me Down, Hibb's Cove, Pick Eyes, and Hussey's Cove with a population of approximately 975 (2006).