U.S. Congressman. Educated as a physician, he practiced medicine in Reading, Vermont, in 1799, studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice law in Cherry Valley, New York, in 1805. In 1815 he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fourteenth Congress, serving until 1817. After his term he continued the practice of law, served in the New York State Senate (1817-1821) and was a judge in Otsego County in 1838. He was appointed a member of the New York State Board of Regents, and served until his death at age 77.