Went to Edinburgh University in 1876 for medical training. After acting as house-physician in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, he was appointed Resident Medical Officer to the Livingstone Memorial Dispensary and Training Institution, under the Medical Missionary Society.
He was a resident physician in 1881 at 39 Cowgate, Edinburgh.
He joined the Church Missionary Society after medical training and went to Kashmir in 1882.
He was the author of several books, including : "Picturesque Kashmir" (1900), "Thirty Years in Kashmir" (1913), "Kashmir Ladakh and Tibet" (1899), "The Tourist's Guide to Kashmir, Ladakh, Skardo &c" (1923).
In 1915 he entered the war effort and proceeded at once to the Kitchener Hospital, at Brighton, with the rank of Major, R.A.M.C. Later on he was transferred as surgical specialist to the Dartford Military Hospital. In 1918 he crossed over to France. In the spring of 1919 he returned to Kashmir but at the end of August 1919 was suddenly struck down by fever and died on the 5th of September.
