Born in Paterson, New Jersey. Graduate of Yale in 1863. He studied abroad in England and Switzerland. He tutored at Yale 1866 to 1869.

He was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church July 15, 1869. He married Whittemore Elliott April 17, 1871. They had two sons. In 1872 he left the priesthood to teach at Yale. He served on New Haven's board of aldermen 1873 to 1876 and on the Connecticut State Board of Education 1882 to 1910.

He had a working knowledge of a dozen languages. He lectured widely on the topics of the day. He was an advocate of sound money and opposed bimetallism and the free silver movement. He published many essays and books on various topics.

Author of A History of American Currency in 1874 with later editions and reprint in 1968. Author of A History of Banking in the United States in 1896. He died in Englewood, New Jersey.

bio: ApCAB; DAB; EAB; NCAB 11, 25; WAB; WWWA-1