 He became involved in politics, being associated with the Loyal Orange Institution of New South Wales, and supported the entry of Labor into the New South Wales Parliament in 1891 due to his "strong democratic views".He himself was a member of the Free Trade Party, and became associated with its more radical section, led by George Reid.He married Florence Matilda Vincent in Sydney on 19 July 1894; later that year, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Free Trade Party, representing the seat of North Balmain.