Born in New York City. Employed in ship chandlery business and later the tobacco business. Married.

One of the founders of the ANS and early member prior to the Civil War. When activities of the society declined in the 1870's, he kept the ANS collection intact. He donated his collection of 5286 Civil War tokens to the ANS in 1900.

He served as an officer of the ANS:

Curator of Numismatics April 7, 1859 to March 18, 1879.

Librarian March 11, 1864 to February 9, 1865.

Curator of Archaeology March 17, 1890 to November 16, 1891.

Curator March 15, 1897 to January 16, 1905.

He died at home in Williamsburg. Coins from the estate were included in two Lyman Low sales in 1895.

bio: CW/NM 4/7/76 obit: AJN 39 Jan 1905 page 91; NUM 18 Jan 1905 page 29