U.S. Navy midshipman, 1827-1830
Private practice, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1833-1834, 1847-1849
Private practice, St. Louis, Missouri, 1834-1847, 1850-1867
Treasurer, Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, 1849
State representative, Missouri, 1859-1860
Delegate and vice president, Missouri constitutional convention, 1865
U.S. senator from Missouri, 1867-1870
Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1885-1892