 He became a merchant at Saint-Eustache and a member of the militia, but was dismissed in 1827 for participating in meetings supporting the Parti patriote.In 1829, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for York County after the death of the previously elected member; he was elected to represent Deux-Montagnes in 1830 and 1834 after York was divided.He supported the Ninety-Two Resolutions but did not support the use of force, which meant that both the government and the Patriotes viewed him as a traitor.