 As a commander in the Wallachian militia, he organized in 1831 the first elections for Bucharest's Town Council, and subsequently served as one of the Bucharest Governors.He first played a major part in national government from 1837 to 1842, when he served Prince Alexandru II Ghica as "Postelnic" and "Logothete".During that interval, he clashed with his own brother Grigore Cantacuzino, who sided with the liberal current.