He was born in Derby, Connecticut, and became a colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, serving as General George Washington's aide de camp. He was United States Minister to Portugal, 1791-97, and to Spain, 1796-1801, and a member of the Connecticut state house of representatives, 1812-14. He imported the Merino sheep to the United States. He died in his hotel room, in New Haven, Connecticut, and was interred at Grove Street Cemetery.