 In 1840, he became secretary and legal advisor to the Société Amicale et Bienviellante des Charpentiers de Vaisseaux de Québec, an association for workers in the shipbuilding industry.He ran unsuccessfully in 1836 for a seat in the legislative assembly; in 1844, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Lotbinière as a Reformer; he was reelected in 1848 and 1851.During his time in the assembly, he lobbied for the use of French in the parliament.