Speaker of the House of Delegates, Delaware (Pennsylvania), about 1750.

Attorney-General of Pennsylvania in 1755.

Recorder of Philadelphia, 1756.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1774.

He studied law at Philadelphia, went abroad in 1741, and entered Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London. He returned to America after his father's death. He was admitted to the bar in 1746 and began practice at Dover, Delaware (formerly under the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania). Moved to Philadelphia in 1754 and built his country seat, "Cliveden," on the Germantown road in 1761.

He was a Commissioner of Boundaries for the three lower counties of Delaware in 1751; Speaker of the House from the same district in 1753-1758; Attorney General of Pennsylvania and member of the Provincial Council 1754-1769;