He graduated from Union College in 1809 and then pursued his professional studies with Judge Jonas Platt. He established himself in Utica, NY and in 1815 he entered into partnership with Judge Morris S. Miller. He was made clerk of the District Court of the United States in Utica, NY. After Judge Miller, his other law partners were G. John Mills, John H. Ostrom and Abraham Varick. He lived in Utica until about 1829, when he moved to New York City and entered the wine and liquor import business. After his business burned down in December 1835 and he realized his business was absolutely ruined, he moved to Michigan in early 1836. He became identified with the growth of Michigan, a new state, and was interested in land sales. He was among the first to engage in the mining of copper on Lake Superior. He lived in Lansing, MI, supposedly named after him, and was the President of Michigan Coal Company and then President of Detroit City Gas Company. He moved to Detroit, MI sometime in the late 1840s/early 1850s and died there. saz - listed in FMS 1835 diary.