He was born on February 15, 1825, at Lanard, Scotland. Very young and probably with his family, he went to the United States. He then graduated in medicine at the Castleton College in Vermont.

He first practised medicine in Dunham, Quebec. In 1864, he had his residence and office on Main Street, just opposite the old Dunham town hall. He was mayor of Dunham Village from 1877 to 1879. He also participated in the battle against the Fenians at Eccles Hill in 1870.

About 1880, he moved to Cowansville where he continued his practice as a physician and surgeon until his death in 1897. He was a governor of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for Lower Canada.

In 1885, he was living on Bell Street in Cowansville in a house named at the time "Riverdale" and later "Pine Gable" and his office was on Main Street. From 1883 to 1885, he was a municipal councillor.

He was married to Lucy Stone Baker. Their daughter, Harriet Clapp Gibson, married Dr Cedric L. Cotton of Cowansville.

His wife died on March 6, 1892, age 52 years and he died in Cowansville, on November 29, 1897, age 72 years. They are both interred in the anglican cemetery in Dunham.