 Educated at Downside School and Trinity College, Cambridge, he attained the rank of Colonel in the Royal Marines in 1945, following which he embarked upon a political career.At the 1945 general election was elected as Member of Parliament for the New Forest and Christchurch constituency, and was re-elected in 1950 for the new New Forest constituency.He held the seat until his resignation from the House of Commons in 1968.