He was born in New Milford, Connecticut, the son of Elijah Boardman. He was a Connecticut state senator in the fourth district, 1830-32, a member of the Connecticut state house of representatives, 1836-39, 1845, and 1849-51, Speaker of the Connecticut State House of Representatives, 1836, 1839, and 1845, United States Representative from Connecticut's second district, 1840-43. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, and is interred at Grove Street Cemetery.